During the Fête de l’Humanité, September 9, 2022 in Brétigny-sur-Orge, in Essone (AFP/Archives/-)
A long queue to eat the famous merguez sandwiches of the Fête de l’Humanité, so far, nothing unusual. But this year, in the great festive gathering of the left, it is a vegan sausage food truck which is unleashing passions.
On this Sunday, the third day of the festival organized in Essone, the stand of the animal rights association L214, which is coming for the first time to this event, is still a victim of its success: “Yesterday, our service began at 11 a.m. and our kitchens were empty at 1:30 p.m.”, smiles Hugo Bouxom, campaign manager for L214, which manages the red and yellow food truck called “Vegan merguez party”.
“Our stocks are empty much faster than expected, while our fridges are full,” he adds, rejoicing at the enthusiasm around non-animal alternatives.
Because at the Fête de l’Humanité, while tensions within the Nupes are stronger than ever and the communist Fabien Roussel, a claimed fan of barbecue and good food, continues to stand out through his media outings, the The question of merguez is very political.
Many leaders, from the ecologist Sandrine Rousseau to the rebellious Manuel Bompard, including the socialist Pierre Jouvet, came during the weekend to promote this vegan alternative to this classic demonstration sandwich.
“It sends a signal, as a political leader, to be there and show that we are on the right track,” LFI deputy Carlos Martens Bilongo told AFP. “You see the queue, there is an hour of waiting at half past twelve,” adds the elected official, who himself is patiently waiting for his turn.
A few meters in front of him, Emyde, an 18-year-old student, finally enjoys her sandwich with mayonnaise sauce. “We have to know how to question ourselves because the emergency is climatic. Ok we have to keep the tradition of eating good things and fatty things all together, but it can also be done ethically,” she explains.
Fabien Roussel, who had been invited by L214, finally came to taste the famous merguez on Sunday afternoon.
“Unlike you, I am still for the development of livestock farming in France (…) I prefer that we eat products that come from our agriculture, that respect the animal, without pesticides,” said declared the national secretary of the PCF, who clarified that he was “against factory farms” and “for family farms”.
© 2023 AFP
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