So much so that on April 9, deputies adopted at first reading a text including measures to repress these clandestine techno parties. This bill from the Horizons party was coupled with another text presented by the Minister of the Interior, Laurent Nuñez, called Ripost and adopted on May 6 in the Senate. It aims to strengthen the criminal and administrative response against several forms of “disorders” of which these “wild parties” are a part.
Faced with this legislative arsenal, some however want to recall the essence of this type of event, based on gathering around techno music, outside of any type of discrimination, whether financial or physical. This is the case of Thomas Ovide and David Muños, two Bayonne residents who are fans of these meetings.
“Basically, we’re just talking about people getting together to party,” says David Muños. The latter co-founded the RFX association, which organizes techno music events inspired by the world of free parties. The small group of friends at the origin of the structure preferred to stay on the side of legality. “We sometimes organize undeclared parties, because certain sound systems cannot be deployed in conventional evenings,” he explains. These gatherings nevertheless remain below the legal maximum threshold of 500 people, which should be lowered to 250 with the new law.
Lack of awareness of these events
For them, this bad image is mainly due to ignorance of these events. “We find artists there who will never play in a club. Free parties are places of musical avant-garde and political expression,” declares Thomas Ovide. The latter found himself several times behind the decks during these evenings.
Free parties are places of musical avant-garde and political expression
The sociologist Anne Petiau was interested in the work of musicians and the different modes of involvement in this counterculture. “This movement originated in England, in the Tatcher years, after the ban on nightclubs opening after 2 a.m. The context was different in France at the time, yet it developed, which shows to what extent this music was of interest to young people. »
The free party model, based on gratuity or free participation in costs, arrived shortly after that of the rave party. They then intervene in response to a certain professionalization of raves but also after repression by the authorities, despite their semi-legality. “The illegality of free parties is inherent with the principle of free because the organization of an event is very expensive,” continues the researcher.
Despite this initial ideal, various excesses have been reported several times in the local and national press. One of the most notable was the organization of a gathering at the end of August 2025, in Aude, in an agricultural plain located in a zone devastated by a gigantic fire three weeks earlier, where a person had lost their life.
“I share the idea that this episode was not very clever and moral,” underlines David Muños. But this is not the majority of cases. On the contrary, I think that we must encourage dialogue between the organizers, authorities and land owners to facilitate their smooth running as best as possible.” “We systematically put the mobilized spaces in order. Everyone takes responsibility by hanging a trash bag on their rearview mirror, for example,” retorts Thomas Ovide.
From now on, the organization of these events will be considered a new offense, punishable by 2 years in prison and a fine of 30,000 euros. The bill will also be steep for the participants, punishable by a fifth class fine, between 1,500 euros and 3,000 euros in the event of a repeat offense.
