Fn France, the mobilization against the far-right continues this Saturday, June 15, just over two weeks before the first round of the early legislative elections. Between 50,000 and 100,000 demonstrators are expected in Paris. Several thousand demonstrators are expected to march throughout France. XXL demonstrations, called by unions and associations from all walks of life.
1 min
It is a rare union in France. Beyond the main left-wing parties and unions, a wide range of movements, collectives, parties, etc., are calling for mobilization. SOS Racisme, Human Rights League, environmental NGOs, feminist collectives… Organizations with different positions and struggles, but which agree on one point: we must block the extreme right at all costs.
Everyone fears a decline in the rule of law if the National Rally emerges victorious in the legislative elections. Among the concerns are widening inequalities and a political agenda accused of fueling racism, hatred and homophobia.
The scale of this mobilization is reminiscent of the demonstrations of May 1, 2002 against Jean-Marie Le Pen. At the time, it was the first time that a National Front leader had qualified for the second round of the presidential election. More than a million people demonstrated throughout France. For Patrick Baudoinpresident of the Human Rights League, the context is no longer the same as twenty-two years ago.
It must be remembered that the shock of 2002 was the fact that Lionel Jospin was excluded from the second round and that it was ultimately Jean-Marie Le Pen who appeared in the second round. The percentage of voters for the extreme right was not equivalent.
Patrick Baudoin, president of the Human Rights League
In twenty years, the context has changed. Nearly 40% of French people voted for the far right in the last European elections.
Read alsoFrance: a far-right government “would be a catastrophe in terms of foreign policy”
Social networks mobilized for the June 15 demonstration
On social networks, associations and unions in France are launching multiple calls for demonstrations this June 15. The online communication strategy that was chosen is to launch these calls both through key words that have already been created by the alliance of the left of new Popular Front and the hashtags of each training calling for mobilization this Saturday.
These calls to demonstrate are the result of a joint initiative by unions and several associations, including the Human Rights League or SOS Racism, but also representative training for teaching staff and students. They wish to mobilize demonstrators throughout the territory, as indicated by their joint messages broadcast on all social networks. Their only watchword is to block far-right candidates who are running in the early legislative elections.
Several websites also offer digital cards which indicate, depending on the regions and cities, the routes of these demonstrations. In order to rally as many participants as possible, the key words already published on social networks by the alliance of the left of the new Popular Front are used. These calls for mobilization thus complement the online electoral communications of the French left, and the messages from influencers who support the mobilization of June 15.