French Member of the European Parliament Marion Maréchal stated, "If the State no longer protects the French, they will defend themselves," during a video address published on October 20, 2026.

 

Marion Maréchal: "If the State no longer protects the French, they will defend themselves"

French Member of the European Parliament Marion Maréchal stated, "If the State no longer protects the French, they will defend themselves," during a video address published on October 20, 2026.

According to her official Marion Maréchal YouTube Channel, her remarks were made in response to a wave of severe student protests, riots, and public disorder that have recently impacted major French cities.

Context of the Remarks

• Widespread Civil Unrest: France has been gripped by massive demonstrations over the "high cost of living" alongside intense student blockades and riots. Right-wing political figures have characterized these events as a "thuggish-leftist insurrection".
• Criticism of State Authority: Maréchal's statement directly targets the current French government, accusing the state apparatus of "laxity" and failing to maintain public order. National Rally leader Marine Le Pen similarly warned of a "profound crisis of trust and authority" in the country.
• Government Response: In response to the growing chaos, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced a "massive" deployment of elite law enforcement units—including the RAID, GIGN, and BRI—to regain control of the streets.

Maréchal, who recently founded the political party Identity-Liberties, frequently uses this rhetoric to argue that regular citizens are being left vulnerable by a failing judicial and security system.