Antifa will be designated a banned terrorist group under plans drawn up by Marine Le Pen's National Rally party

Marine Le Pen's National Rally party is planning to list Antifa as a banned terrorist group if it wins the elections next year. The party's leader, Jordan Bardella, has been chosen by National Rally presidential candidate Le Pen to serve as her prime minister should she replace Emmanuel Macron in the 2027 elections. In a recent interview with French news outlet CNews, Bardella said that if he becomes the head of the government, he will call on the European Union to add Antifa militias and all far-left organisations to terror lists. He said that the far-left are pushing the country towards 'civil war' and that groups like Antifa serve as their 'armed wing', arguing that it is necessary to take those measures to ensure order on the streets.France has been ravaged by recurring, widespread protests in recent weeks, which have been marred by violence. Authorities have blamed masked far-left radicals seeking to incite insurrection. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of the far-left party La France Insoumise, has been criticised by his opponents for embracing the protests, with Le Pen's party accusing him of plunging France into chaos. 'I call upon the French people to be wary of those who preach civil war, those who seek to erase France, and those who wish to replace its identity. We have seen this manifest in the streets of Paris: a convergence involving a proxy—an armed wing, if you will—consisting of the 'ultra-left.' This group, which maintains certain ties to deputies from La France Insoumise, ought to be classified as a terrorist organisation,' Bardella said.'The far-left has effectively become the armed wing of La France Insoumise, and the predators from the suburbs—whose desire for revenge against France is fuelled and stirred up by La France Insoumise. I am, therefore, extremely concerned about the conduct of this party. And let me tell you: Jean-Luc Mélenchon is highly intelligent; he knows exactly what he is doing,' Bardella added.A woman rides a bicycle past French riot police standing near a burning barricade amid clashes with protesters during a day of demonstrations on October 17, 2026 Protester throws projectiles at a burning car during a demonstration against rising living costs and cuts to public services in Paris Protester throws a bicycle onto a burning car amid clashes during a day of demonstrations against the cost of living and rising fuel prices in Paris A fire burns through the city hall in Limoges after a group of protesters forced entry into the building during protests In addition to proscribing Antifa, Bardella said he would look to ban those on security watch lists from participating in protests, 'much like football hooligans.'His remarks come as protests continued in Paris last week, as demonstrators demanded higher wages. France's Interior Ministry said more than 600,000 people took to the streets while the CGT, one of France's major unions, said nearly 1.6 million people took part in over 200 demonstrations nationwide. The figures exceed those reported on October 17, when protests were marred by scenes of rioting and looting. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said that 70,000 police officers were deployed, backed by armored vehicles, drones and helicopters. Police have been criticized for injuring protesters with heavy-handed tactics.Authorities in the western region of Brittany said Thursday that masked individuals tried to block roads in Rennes. They said young people, often accompanied by adults, committed 'serious acts of violence,' including throwing steel balls at police.Authorities also reported tensions, scuffles and other incidents in the cities of Lyon, Nantes, Pau, Orléans, Rennes and Toulouse.The Interior Ministry said police arrested at least 448 people. The movement began in September with a protest over staff shortages at a high school southeast of Paris and spread nationwide. It drew students demanding more education funding and then broadened to workers seeking better pensions and help with soaring fuel prices and other costs.Thursday's demonstrations come as the campaign to succeed Macron as president next May heats up, with political leaders seeking to capitalise on the movement.Macron is constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term. Far-right contender Le Pen is the favourite to win.Some candidates participated in the Paris march, including Mélenchon, Green leader Marine Tondelier and Raphaël Glucksmann, who represents the moderate left.