A few thousand young demonstrators gathered at Place de la République in Paris
Little by little, demonstrators fill the Place de la République in Paris. At 9:30 p.m., a few thousand gathered against the far right, the day after the shock wave caused by the results of the European elections – Jordan Bardella, head of the National Rally list, having obtained 31.3% votes – then Emmanuel Macron’s announcement of the dissolution of the National Assembly.
Many young people, even very young people, demonstrators are present. To the song of “Everyone hates Bardella”, the activists clap their hands. Some, standing on the statue of the Republic, brandish flags of the UNEF, the New Anti-Capitalist Party, but also the Young Ecologists. “What do we want?” The popular front »also intone the demonstrators.
Most came with friends. This is the case of Eléa, in her final year at the Maurice-Ravel high school, in the 20e district, who came with five comrades. “I voted for the first time in my life yesterday [dimanche]and I’m just disappointed to see the RN’s score”says the high school student. “We came to support the true values of France and to remind people that we are against the RN, that we always will be”explains the young girl, who affirms that she will continue to mobilize in the coming days while starting her baccalaureate revisions. “I would really like there to be a union on the left”implores Eléa, who had already demonstrated several times, notably against pension reform.
Lucas, 21, a social history student at Paris-IV, came with her husband and friends. “I was appalled by the results of the far right yesterday, I thought that young people were going to vote left, but that was not the case. That’s why I came tonighthe says. I wanted to show that young people can still vote left, believe in it and mobilize. » Concerning the president’s announcement of the dissolution of the Assembly, the young man does not mince his words: “It’s an extremely dangerous game, for young people, LGBTQIA+ and the most precarious. I’m very scared. »
Lydia, 24, came with a few friends. The young woman fears the coming to power of a far-right government. “I do not want a Prime Minister who calls into question my identity, my beliefs and my rights as a woman”, deplores the young employee. She regrets the legislative elections announced in haste, the day before the summer holidays. “Everyone on the left must be able to put their ego aside and come together. This is the only way to fight hatred.”details the young girl, while the songs “Gaza, Gaza, Paris is with you” are heard.
Youth organizations, including the High School Union, Young Ecologists, Young Insoumis, and the Student Union, had called on young people to gather on Monday evening in all cities in France.