“We are facing History”: 700 people gathered in the Landes against the far right before the Legislative Elections

The CFDT, the CGT, the Unsa, Solidaires and FSU as well as the Human Rights League called for mobilization this Saturday, June 15 against the extreme right, as the legislative elections approach. The first round will take place in two weeks, on June 30. Nearly 200 gatherings were planned throughout France, more than 300,000 people expected. In the Landes, there were two in the morning: Dax and Parentis-en-Born. They brought together 550 and 150 people respectively. Or around 700 demonstrators for the Landes department.

In the Dacquois procession, faces that the unions are not necessarily used to seeing. “We who are used to doing so, we see that we do not see the same audience today as when we call for demonstrations for pensions, salaries, etc. Today there are people we have never seen in demonstrationrelates Géraldine Madounari, general secretary of CGT at Dax hospital. This clearly demonstrates that when we really need to mobilize, because a danger is likely to occur, a really serious danger, people mobilize.”

“The result of the Europeans was a real shock”

For example, we meet a lady from Cholet. She is in the Landes this weekend, her husband called the CGT to find out where the nearest gathering was. Not far from her, this other lady, still not from Landes but from Bordeaux, currently on vacation in Messanges. “We have a pyromaniac president who thinks he’s Zorro. At some point, we have to move away from caricatures” proclaims Danielle, 72, worried. Even on vacation, it was important for her to mobilize. “This is the first time that the far right is in a position to come to power” she says.

The trade unionist also notes the presence of young people in the dacquois gathering. Not much of course, largely surrounded by gray hair. But as much, “it’s quite exceptional in Dax” she assures. For example, there is this group of four young people. Some have just voted for the first time while others are not yet of the required age. Antoine is one of them: “We want to show that young people are against the extreme right. This is not just a question of unions. The result of the European elections was a real shock. We are facing History. Soon, the extreme right could govern in France, which would be absolutely catastrophic.