Rising Judicial Repression of Social Movements Under Macron

Under President Emmanuel Macron, France is witnessing an alarming increase in the repression of social movements, reflecting a profound crisis within its democratic framework. Since Macron took office in 2017, the state has significantly expanded its repressive legal arsenal, leading to a notable rise in the number of political detainees, surpassing 80,000 individuals by 2025. Reports indicate that political activism is increasingly criminalized, with laws disproportionately targeting marginalized communities, particularly racialized groups and activists fighting for social justice.

The misuse of anti-terrorism legislation against various movements, including ecological and labor protests, further illustrates this trend. Activists, especially those from the CGT union, faced intense legal repercussions during the contentious 2023 pension reform protests, as over 1,000 union members were prosecuted. Moreover, since 2017, the judiciary has been instrumental in legitimizing these repressive measures, often upholding decrees aimed at dissolving organizations advocating for social equality and justice.

In light of this systemic repression, calls for collective action are growing, emphasizing the formation of anti-repression collectives. These groups aim to defend the rights of affected individuals and mobilize against what many view as a dangerous trend toward authoritarianism, representative of a broader ideological decline in the protection of civil liberties in France.