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Protest of anti-G7 activists in the Basque Country, August 24, 2019. Photo: Pierre Olivier / RFI

While heads of state are expected at the end of the day this Saturday in Biarritz for the G7, a large demonstration of opponents of the G7 takes place this Saturday, August 24, late in the morning at Hendaye on the Spanish border, 30 km to south of Biarritz. A demonstration that organizers want peaceful, but some activists still hear " scare the leaders ".

With our special correspondent in Hendaye, Pierre Olivier

It is in a relaxed and good-natured atmosphere that 15,000 people marched according to the organizers. A journey of almost 3 kilometers long, straddling France and Spain, punctuated by itinerant concerts and which brought together both yellow jackets and Basque separatists through climate activists.

Under a blazing sun, no tension, no clash took place between protesters and police. At the request of the organizers, who provided their own police service, the police and gendarmes were discreet throughout the course of the event.

No provocation on either side and in the opinion of the demonstrators, the exercise on Saturday morning was successful, he showed that the anti-G7 movement is peaceful. It is also in peace that the militants then dispersed but some of them at the end of the procession were already considering getting closer to the epicenter of the G7.

Getting closer to Bayonne

Indeed, for some activists, this official event 30 kilometers from Biarritz was far too geographically distant from the heart of the G7. They call therefore this Saturday, August 24, in the afternoon, to seize Biarritz. These activists therefore planned in the afternoon to get as close to Bayonne where undeclared wild actions could take place a few kilometers from Biarritz.

Downtown Biarritz closed for the G7, August 23, 2019. Pierre Olivier / RFI

Regarding the few clashes Friday, August 23, evening, in Urrugne between police and a few dozen activists, organizers of the counter-summit said this morning they condemned the violence on both sides.

► To read also: G7 in Biarritz: NGOs organize their counter-summit in Hendaye and Irun