One week before the second round of the presidential election, 200 people gathered at Place de la Resistance in Quimper against the far right. A call launched less than 48 hours earlier by several unions and associations, including the Human Rights League, Solidaires and the FSU. Flags of the PCF and of insubordinate France also float in the Quimper procession.
20 years after the shock of April 21, 2002
Among those present, many remember the shock of April 21, 2002. This is the case of Daniel. A sign “No pasaran” (“They will not pass !” in Spanish, famous political slogan of the anti-fascist resistance, editor’s note) in hand, he had already demonstrated in 2002, “but also in 2017, and whenever it was necessary.”
“At the time, I was abroad for my studies. When a comrade called me to tell me that Le Pen was in the second round, I laughed, I thought it was a joke. Then I had my mother, she was crying”, remembers this member of the League of Human Rights, moved. But 20 years later, the shock gave way to a form of weariness. “And angry too” explains Soaz.
The useful vote on everyone’s lips
A sign around the neck, she denounces her lack of choice. She has already voted useful in the first round, she will do so again on April 24. “Who can project themselves into a Lepenist regime?”. For her, this vote for Emmanuel Macron will be “extremely difficult but I have no choice.” She sees it as a choice “in solidarity with the most vulnerable people”. “They are already suffering now, but with Marine Le Pen, it will be unbridled.”
This question of a blocking vote in favor of Emmanuel Macron is on everyone’s lips, yet many still seem reluctant, even opposed to voting for the president-candidate. A hesitation that Thomas struggles to understand. “There is unfortunately no alternative, it will be one of the two.” He who voted for the first time in 2002, is also disappointed with the low mobilization. “I still expected more people. It’s as if people had used to it, but you can’t get used to it.”
A dozen demonstrations against the far right were expected this weekend throughout France.