The far-right leader Marine Le Pen was the target of two eggs thrown by an unidentified individual during a visit to Saint-Amand-les-Eaux in northern France, as she accompanied a candidate in the legislative election.
The former presidential candidate of the National Rally traveled to the town to support Guillaume Florquin, the campaign candidate for the 20th district of the Northern division. Dozens of supporters gathered around Florquin’s campaign headquarters to greet Le Pen upon her arrival, at which point two raw eggs were hurled from the crowd, as reported by regional media and corroborated by videos circulating on social platforms.
Le Pen’s visit drew attention beyond the moment of the incident. A commentator noted the event as a marginal gesture, while others observed that she was able to proceed with her engagements with her security team ensuring the safety of the moment. Observers cited by the campaign described the disruption as contained and non-violent in its outcome, with Le Pen continuing to meet with supporters after the disturbance.
Accounts from eyewitnesses near the scene described verbal insults directed at Le Pen and her family following the initial incident, with security personnel quickly moving to shield the candidate and restore order. The spokesperson for the National Rally’s national office and a departmental representative attributed the act to a single individual and stressed that the affair did not derail the candidate’s schedule or the campaign’s outreach in the area.
Further remarks from party officials emphasized that the incident was isolated and did not affect the overall engagement with voters in the district. A deputy departmental delegate highlighted that the individual involved would be detained by police as part of the ensuing procedure.
Across the coverage, observers noted that the episode occurred in the context of a tightly focused political effort aimed at mobilizing regional support ahead of the ballots. The episode also sparked discussion about security measures at campaign events and the broader environment surrounding campaign activities in the region.
While social media posts and news reports framed the event as a fringe act, the broader narrative focused on Le Pen’s continued presence on the campaign trail and her ability to meet with residents despite the disruption. The incident underscored ongoing tensions surrounding populist movements in the area and highlighted the challenges political figures can face when engaging with diverse local communities. [Citation: Le Parisien]