A Paris demonstration on January 15 caused a lot of confusion.
This Saturday, the biggest rally was against the vaccine pass;
but alongside, far-right activists were also demonstrating.
They are suspected of attacking AFP journalists.
In the evening, they joined the march organized by Paris Fiertés for Sainte Geneviève, an identity gathering.
During the demonstration during the day, a photo caused a stir: we see in all likelihood a hundred people performing a Nazi salute.
Florian Philippot, organizer of the anti-sanitary pass march, corrected by showing that it was at that moment a “clapping” scene, like in a stadium.
However, other images show many people giving Nazi salutes.
Far-right activists therefore probably carried out this illegal act without hiding.
The same evening, radical right-wing groups dissolved by the state, such as Génération Identitaire and the Zouaves, marched in the march for Sainte Geneviève.
For Nicolas Lebourg, a specialist in the extreme right and researcher at CEPEL, “we have seen dissolved movements, demonstrating in the street in an ostentatious and open manner, and advocating collaboration.
That raises a number of questions…” As to whether there are neo-Nazis in France: “There has clearly been radicalization since 2015, a rise in terrorist projects.
(…) White nationalism is a very fashionable trend”.
According to the historian, in October and November 2021, four members of the ultra-right were arrested: they were planning neo-Nazi attacks during the election period.