Demonstrations against ‘Canon banquets’ in Dordogne - why are they controversial?

Some 200 people gathered in Périgueux (Dordogne) on August 1 to protest against large French ‘banquets’ set to take place in the city this October. 

These increasingly controversial events are hosted by Le Canon Français – an organisation said to be associated with promoting right-wing, nationalist ideals that is partly financed by conservative billionaire Pierre-Edouard Stérin. 

Around 100 of these Canon Français gatherings, costing €79.99 to attend, have taken place across France “to promote local French cuisine and heritage” over the last few years, with more planned in the coming months. 

The Périgueux banquet is set to take place from October 23-25. It was initially planned over two nights; however, an extra date was added due to popular demand.

Petitions aiming to cancel these events are gaining support, and last weekend protestors gathered with signs featuring messages such as: ‘On ne servira pas de chair à Canon’ (We won’t be used as Canon flesh) and ‘Périgueux sans canon’ (Périgueux without Canon).

“No, the ‘Canon Français’ does not offer a nice, festive, friendly banquet featuring lovely local produce. That’s just the façade. In reality, behind the scenes, it’s a well-oiled far-right propaganda machine run by Stérin, who is no philanthropist,” said Périgord Insoumis (LFI) following their participation in Saturday’s demonstration. 

“Those who pretend to take offence know full well what the aim of this malicious operation is,” it added.

As well as the August 1 demonstration, which began at 17:00, a similar protest with some 300 people also took place in front of the Périgueux mairie on June 30.

The founders of Le Canon Français, Pierre-Alexandre Mortemard de Boisse and Géraud du Fayet de la Tour, have denied any “political strategy” to their business endeavour.

The organisation’s charter states that guests “must not impose political views or make offensive remarks… This also applies to songs and to political or association-related paraphernalia, which have no place within the Canon community.”

“Our events are public, open to all, apolitical, and friendly. Anyone can come and see for themselves,” the pair said during an interview with Le Monde.   

Despite their claim to political neutrality, right-wing groups have come forward to defend Le Canon Français and its banquet events.

“The ‘Canon Français’ banquets champion a certain vision of France: conviviality, sharing, fine dining, local produce and the passing on of our cultural heritage around a shared table,” the Rassemblement National de la Dordogne wrote in a Facebook post on August 3. 

“Whether or not you agree with this vision, seeking to prevent citizens from gathering peacefully says far more about the methods employed than about the event itself. It’s always the same tactics from the Left and LFi: prioritising pressure and intimidation over debating ideas,” it said.

The mayor of Périgueux, Michel Cadet, has also made his stance clear: “I believe that this organisation is free to do as it pleases, that people are free to attend or not, and that it is not my place to comment on the content of what will be done or said within this space,” he told ICI Périgord in early July.

Not welcome in Bergerac

The Périgueux banquets were originally planned to take place in Bergerac, however the organisers chose to change locations after experiencing what they called “toxic behaviour” from Bergerac’s town hall, according to an announcement shared on X by Le Canon Français. 

“We took this decision following a series of petty and hostile actions directed at us by Bergerac Town Hall, which stood in stark contrast to the phenomenal welcome we received from the people of Bergerac and the many local craftspeople in the area,” read the post. 

The organisation also highlighted the town hall’s “deeply worrying rejection of culture.”

The petition for the cancellation of the Périgueux events currently has over 2,100 signatures.