While the world seemed in relative balance since the end of the Second World War, history was shaken up in 1979. With Brice Couturier, journalist and essayist, author of 1979, the great change of the worldLa Loupe looks back on four of these major events. In this second episode, we focus on the political divides in France around the question of Europe.
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The team: Charlotte Baris (presentation and writing), Jules Krot (editing and direction)
Credits: INA
Music and dressing: Emmanuel Herschon/Studio Torrent
Logo: Jérémy Cambour
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Charlotte Baris: One of the great figures often represented on the front page of L’Express is called Simone Veil. The magistrate appears several times on the cover of the magazine, always with her bun and her light eyes that probe you. His closed face is accompanied by a title “the big fight”. At the end of April 1979, there was no question of her fight for abortion. Because Simone Veil is a candidate for the European elections, an unprecedented vote. For the first time, deputies will be elected by direct universal suffrage. His campaign is eventful. Like when National Front activists invite themselves to one of its meetings.
This scene illustrates the tense atmosphere that reigns around this election. The entire political class is divided, as we can read in this April 1979 issue of L’Express. Both on the left and on the right, there are quarrels over the question of Europe. Fractures that will mark French politics until today.
To go further:
The inexorable rise of the RN in the European elections between 1979 and 2024
1979 – Simone Veil and the European rebus
Ursula von der Leyen rides the wave of French political disaster, by Emmanuelle Mignon