Périgueux: 300 people protest against planned banquet of “Canon français”

Périgueux – 01.07.2026: Around 300 people demonstrated on Tuesday evening in Périgueux against a banquet announced for October by the organization “Canon français”. Several left-wing parties, local collectives and trade unions had called for the protest. Participants urged the city to review the permission already granted for a municipal hall and to cancel the event.

According to the organizers, members of the Parti socialiste, the Communist Party, the Greens, Génération.s and La France insoumise took part. In speeches they criticized what they described as an exclusionary, identity-based orientation attributed to the banquet series. The use of public infrastructure for a politically charged event could not be justified as long as allegations from other cities remained, was the tenor.

The background to the mobilization are disputes over similar banquets in other regions. At some dates, there were controversial scenes, according to media reports, which reportedly led in part to investigations. No concrete, reliable information regarding Périgueux is available so far. The demonstrators nevertheless point to these incidents and demand a precautionary review by the municipal authorities and the prefecture.

The city administration has in principle approved the use of a hall for October. According to those involved, the town hall said it was monitoring the situation and was in contact with the security authorities. No official statements from the prefecture were available in the evening. The police accompanied the rally; no major incidents were reported. The organizers of the demonstration emphasized the peaceful nature of the protest and announced further talks with the city.

The operators of the “Canon français” brand describe their banquets, according to media reports, as cultural and gastronomic gatherings. Specific statements regarding the date in Périgueux were not available by the editorial deadline. Whether adjustments to the location, concept or security requirements will be made is unclear. For the municipality, this raises the question of how to balance freedom of assembly, the use of municipal spaces and the avoidance of potential disturbances.

The case is part of a broader discussion about political events in public facilities. Especially in election years, there is repeated debate about where the line between a cultural framework and a political message lies and what review competencies municipalities have. In Périgueux, the decision on the banquet is also likely to depend on whether the prefecture recommends additional conditions and whether the organizers comment transparently on the concept, guests and security precautions.