Paul, 24, is a parliamentary collaborator for LREM MP Isabelle Rauch. He is from Thionville in eastern France, a political territory marked by numerous social conflicts. We remember the battle of the Florange steelworkers. Like the rest of public opinion, this event marked Paul.
When the ArcelorMittal-Florange conflict erupted in February 2012, Paul was 14 years old. As a teenager, he experienced this social movement from the inside alongside his parents who were mobilized there. This event was a key marker in its political construction: “For a 14-year-old kid, seeing those images was impressive. I was at the foot of the van when François Hollande came to Florange.“
We realize the heritage we carry, that of the struggles and of the working class.
Paul, 24 years old
Ten years later, Paul remembers “general meetings held at the footbridge in Florange.” Places “where we argued, debated and made decisions.“This social mobilization allowed him to realize what politics could be,”something very concrete and very strong.“
Later, Paul says he wanted “to see behind the scenes, in parliament“Three years ago, while studying at Paris-Dauphine University, he was contacted by Moselle MP LREM Isabelle Rauch to become his parliamentary collaborator.”I wanted to know how the public thing was done. Now I want to discover another universe where the projects are worked on more in depth.“
It’s good that there are militants but that’s not my way of being. I see myself as an activist but in a different way.
Paul, 24 years oldat franceinfo
“It’s the party culture that tires me and that I find a bit artificial“, confides Paul, who wishes to note that “it is in the parties that democracy is also built. But for now I can’t find it. That doesn’t mean I’ll never get there.“
Paul’s parliamentary mission is due to end at the end of February. Afterwards, he would like to work in the field of social and solidarity economy. “I would like to work in a company here, on the border with Luxembourg. I would like to create jobs for the people who work here“.
On the political side, even if Paul was parliamentary attaché to a LREM deputy, he admits that he is not an activist. “I didn’t even vote for Emmanuel Macron in 2017, my MP is aware. I’m more from the left.”