feminist marches in Bordeaux and Poitiers

2000 people in Bordeaux, several hundred demonstrators in Poitiers, 150 people in La Rochelle. As in several cities in France, feminist marches set off at 2 p.m. to protest against the far right this Sunday, eight days before the first round of early legislative elections.

A procession to defend their rights. In New Aquitaine, several rallies took place at the call of unions and feminist associations to protest against the far right. Overview of Bordeaux and Poitiers. Note that a feminist gathering was also organized in La Rochelle with 150 people.

“The National Rally has never positioned itself as a defender of women’s rightslaunches an SOS Racisme activist, a few minutes before the departure of the procession from Place de la Victoire. This is proof that with them, we will not achieve social progress.“

In Bordeaux, under its festive air, the demonstrators, led by music, say they are filled with doubts as the first round of early legislative elections approaches. At the heart of the demands this Sunday, concern about women’s rights.

Marie-Françoise Raybaud is director of the information center on women and family law (CIFDD) in Gironde. She fears a setback on “the right to abortion, the values ​​of equality, in particular the question of parenthood, violence and women’s work.” And added: “European examples have proven this to us: wherever the extreme right has arrived, women’s rights have never benefited.“The director refers in particular to the almost complete ban on the right to abortion in certain countries such as Poland.

Same concern in Poitiers, where several hundred demonstrators marched against the far-right in the city center. “Have you seen anything in the RN program on women’s rights, apart from publicity effects?”, calls out Christine Burgeres, the president of the local branch of the CIDFF, an information center for the rights of women and families. Before warning: if the RN comes to power, “It is our families who will suffer, who risk no longer having access to care (…) and rights” fundamental.

“Women have always fought for the right to vote, for equal pay… we want to continue so that our children and our grandchildren have rights”supports a protester from Poitiers.

Also read: Legislative elections 2024: IVG, breast cancer, domestic violence… How has the RN voted on texts related to women’s rights so far?

In the ranks of the demonstrators, another question is also on everyone’s minds, those of subsidies to support associations, or even those defending women’s rights, such as Family Planning: “unthinkable“, according to Pauline Nicolas, an activist in the Bordeaux procession.

But the stakes of the gatherings this Sunday are even greater. Clément, co-president of the Bordeaux section of the Human Rights League, insists: “There is a danger for all minorities. And if women’s rights are attacked, it is those of everyone who will be attacked.” “The far right doesn’t worry us, it terrifies us“, supports another demonstrator a little further away.

The RN’s anti-immigration discourse is also denounced by demonstrators: “It is their business to say that it is bad for France, but the immigrants are in retirement homes, hospitals, they sweep the streets (…) If Bardella comes to power it will be very bad happen”alerts one of them in Poitiers, before calling for “vote against the RN”.