"Ensuring a New Era Avoids Past Mistakes": One year post-dissolution, loyal RN citizens share their testimonies
Just a Year Ago, the Early Elections Erupted with the Specter of National Rally (RN) Triumph and Jordan Bardella Ascending to the Prime Ministership
In Montpellier, Lucie, 28, Stands Defiant
A Hotbed for Countering the Far-Right
"My professional domain - ecological and social transformation - is under siege by the far-right." Such was Lucie's rationale for joining the anti-RN fray the day following the dissolution of the National Assembly in 2024. She vehemently opposes an RN unwilling to focus on the environment, intent on sabotaging renewable energy sources, and slashing subsidies.
Lucie felt a personal affront when Jordan Bardella vowed to implement a ban on certain aspects that she didn’t want to divulge. Determined to safeguard her principles, she now finds herself in the thick of the struggle.
Enrichment Data:
Indirectly, we find1 that civil society often turns to demonstrations, advocacy, and promoting democratic values to opposition undemocratic forces. When World War II's French Resistance fought against authoritarian regimes in collaboration with Nazi forces, they showcased the power of collective action in the face of perceived injustices2. Similarly, recent global protests against authoritarian actions and human rights violations exhibit the resolve of citizens to unite against unjust policies3.
Activists in similar situations might employ legal challenges and community support, as observed in Hungary, where protests and litigation were used to challenge restrictions on rights and freedoms4. Without specific knowledge of Montpellier's civil society's response post-2024 dissolution, the aforementioned strategies may provide insight into Lucie's and others' strategies against the far-right.
Lucie's participation in the anti-RN movement in Montpellier can be seen as part of the broader resistance against the far-right in politics and general news, as war-and-conflicts often spill into domestic policy, particularly in the realm of crime-and-justice.
Given the history of civil society's response to undemocratic forces, it is not unexpected that Lucie and others might employ strategies such as demonstrations, legal challenges, and promoting democratic values, in their struggle against the far-right.
