We were voting in the second round of the snap election to choose all 577 members of the National Assembly. The far right was set to win the most seats in an unprecedented surge towards power.
How many seats would the far right win? We had no hope. In the worst-case scenario, they could secure the absolute majority.
The city was boarded up on Sunday afternoon. It reminded me of Salvador before Carnival except there would be no party, just a potential protest against fascism and pure anger. Nantes even announced that only old tramways would be in service instead of the newer models, “hidden” somewhere, or else they would be burned.
I found it hilarious—one of these “only in France” moments when the city kind of tells you it’s okay to burn down the old tramways but not the new ones.
Nantes boarded up, July 7, 2024Nantes boarded up, July 7, 2024Nantes boarded up, July 7, 2024
At 7:30 p.m., I walked to the Tour the Bretagne to join the antifascist sit-in waiting anxiously for the election results. It wasn’t a happy gathering, the far right was set to win. Yet, it felt important to show up and protest, not against the election results—in France, elections aren’t rigged—but against the situation.
Apathy is not an option.
Antifascist gathering at the Tour de Bretagne, Nantes, July 7, 2024Antifascist gathering at the Tour de Bretagne, Nantes, July 7, 2024Antifascist gathering at the Tour de Bretagne, Nantes, July 7, 2024Antifascist gathering at the Tour de Bretagne, Nantes, July 7, 2024Antifascist gathering at the Tour de Bretagne, Nantes, July 7, 2024Antifascist gathering at the Tour de Bretagne, Nantes, July 7, 2024Antifascist gathering at the Tour de Bretagne, Nantes, July 7, 2024Antifascist gathering at the Tour de Bretagne, Nantes, July 7, 2024Antifascist gathering at the Tour de Bretagne, Nantes, July 7, 2024Antifascist gathering at the Tour de Bretagne, Nantes, July 7, 2024
At 7:59, everybody gathered around the big screen.
In France, election results are announced at 8:00 p.m. on the dot. There’s a media blackout over all election weekends so the results are a complete surprise (unless you check foreign media…).
There was a split second of disbelief before the crowd erupted into cheers.
I couldn’t see the screen, it took me (and many of us) a minute to understand.
The far right didn’t secure the absolute majority—the left-wing alliance did.
This is the biggest political upheaval in decades.
France’s leftist New Popular Front wins a shock victory, Nantes, July 7, 2024France’s leftist New Popular Front wins a shock victory, Nantes, July 7, 2024France’s leftist New Popular Front wins a shock victory, Nantes, July 7, 2024France’s leftist New Popular Front wins a shock victory, Nantes, July 7, 2024France’s leftist New Popular Front wins a shock victory, Nantes, July 7, 2024France’s leftist New Popular Front wins a shock victory, Nantes, July 7, 2024France’s leftist New Popular Front wins a shock victory, Nantes, July 7, 2024France’s leftist New Popular Front wins a shock victory, Nantes, July 7, 2024France’s leftist New Popular Front wins a shock victory, Nantes, July 7, 2024France’s leftist New Popular Front wins a shock victory, Nantes, July 7, 2024France’s leftist New Popular Front wins a shock victory, Nantes, July 7, 2024France’s leftist New Popular Front wins a shock victory, Nantes, July 7, 2024France’s leftist New Popular Front wins a shock victory, Nantes, July 7, 2024France’s leftist New Popular Front wins a shock victory, Nantes, July 7, 2024France’s leftist New Popular Front wins a shock victory, Nantes, July 7, 2024
I rushed home to pick up Mark and my mum and we joined the informal party, then we started marching. Since all protests were banned throughout France on Sunday night, it took about ten minutes to get tear-gassed.
A few comrades kept the police busy, throwing Molotov cocktails and setting garbage cans on fire, while most of us took another street.
“TOUT LE MONDE DÉTESTE LA POLICE!”
“I like this one,” Mark admitted. “It’s catchy and I totally understand what it means.”
(Sorry, Mark, this was the latest protest this summer…)
Post-election march against fascism, Nantes, July 7, 2024Post-election march against fascism, Nantes, July 7, 2024Post-election march against fascism, Nantes, July 7, 2024Post-election march against fascism, Nantes, July 7, 2024Post-election march against fascism, Nantes, July 7, 2024Post-election march against fascism, Nantes, July 7, 2024Post-election march against fascism, Nantes, July 7, 2024Post-election march against fascism, Nantes, July 7, 2024Post-election march against fascism, Nantes, July 7, 2024Post-election march against fascism, Nantes, July 7, 2024Post-election march against fascism, Nantes, July 7, 2024Post-election march against fascism, Nantes, July 7, 2024Post-election march against fascism, Nantes, July 7, 2024Post-election march against fascism, Nantes, July 7, 2024Post-election march against fascism, Nantes, July 7, 2024Post-election march against fascism, Nantes, July 7, 2024Post-election march against fascism, Nantes, July 7, 2024Post-election march against fascism, Nantes, July 7, 2024Post-election march against fascism, Nantes, July 7, 2024Post-election march against fascism, Nantes, July 7, 2024Post-election march against fascism, Nantes, July 7, 2024Post-election march against fascism, Nantes, July 7, 2024Post-election march against fascism, Nantes, July 7, 2024Post-election march against fascism, Nantes, July 7, 2024Post-election march against fascism, Nantes, July 7, 2024Post-election march against fascism, Nantes, July 7, 2024Post-election march against fascism, Nantes, July 7, 2024Post-election march against fascism, Nantes, July 7, 2024
On célèbre, on souffle, et maintenant on lutte. C’est qu’un sursis de 3 ans, au mieux. Je suis encore en réflexion sur quel mode de lutte je vais m’engager…
Allez, on y va !
Bon, on n’a qu’une majorité relative, mais c’est mieux que rien. Après, il faut espérer que les sociaux-traîtres comme Hollande (élu en Corrèze) et ses larbins ne fassent pas alliance avec Moncon.
On célèbre, on souffle, et maintenant on lutte. C’est qu’un sursis de 3 ans, au mieux. Je suis encore en réflexion sur quel mode de lutte je vais m’engager…
Allez, on y va !
Je ne doutais pas vraiment de ton vote, mais je suis heureuse qu’on soit dans le même camp et état d’esprit :_)
Pareil, je cherche mon mode de lutte. Dis-moi si tu trouves le tien!
Oh je suis une sale bobo gauchiasse féminazie boulgour moi ! (Tu as quitté la France il y a longtemps, tu as peut-être pas les codes linguistiques… )
Ah, merci. Je ne savais pas quoi mettre sur mon profil LinkedIn.
Par contre, j’avoue que culturellement, c’ets plutôt riz que boulgour chez nous.
OUÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ !!!!
Bon, on n’a qu’une majorité relative, mais c’est mieux que rien. Après, il faut espérer que les sociaux-traîtres comme Hollande (élu en Corrèze) et ses larbins ne fassent pas alliance avec Moncon.
Je me délecte encore de la gueule des fachos à 20 h dimanche. Ils avaient l’air encore plus méchants.
I’m glad the election ended well in France! Now all eyes on U.S….
I know, looks scary over there…