Lausanne feminist strike draws 15,000 and ties demands to the G7 summit starting in Évian
Around 15,000 demonstrators filled the streets of Lausanne on Saturday for the annual feminist strike, which was moved forward by a day to align with protests against the G7 summit opening Sunday in Évian-les-Bains.
A march under scorching sun
On Saturday afternoon, Place de la Riponne in Lausanne filled with an estimated 15,000 people (around 9,000 according to police counts) for the feminist strike. Banners, purple flags, and Palestinian keffiyehs moved through the heat, and speakers denounced what they called the 'violent imperialist world order' ahead of the G7 summit across the lake.
Convergence of struggles
Alongside the feminist slogans, the procession carried trade-union flags, environmental messages, and keffiyehs. Organizers stressed that their fight against gender inequality is inseparable from opposition to the G7, which they accuse of deepening global inequalities and fuelling conflicts. The convergence of causes has become a hallmark of recent mobilisations.
A deliberate date shift
The 2026 edition was moved from its usual date, not to avoid the No-G7 protests in Geneva but to echo them. An organizer, Marion, explained the choice: 'It's not about shifting the date, it’s harmonisation. We wanted to be together, our feminist struggles are intrinsically tied to the No-G7 movement.' The march reached the Esplanade de Montbenon around 5:30 p.m.
- Feminist strike in Lausanne gathers 15,000 people (police: 9,000)
- March reaches Esplanade de Montbenon
- G7 summit begins in Évian-les-Bains, France
Internationalist message
"Our struggles are internationalist,' Marion said. 'If we fight here, it's because the mechanisms that produce inequality are the same everywhere. The G7 reflects a profoundly unequal world order. We defend the same freedoms, the same human rights.' The feminist strike will later march alongside the No-G7 coalition at the far end of Lake Geneva.
