Presidential: Mélenchon in Toulouse, behind the scenes of a giant meeting
The leader of the Insoumis is at Place du Capitole, as in 2012, this Sunday, April 3, at 2 p.m., for the last big outdoor meeting of his campaign, a week before the first round of the ballot.
A show of strength. As in 2012, Place du Capitole already, and in 2017, at the Prairie des Filtres, during his two previous presidential campaigns, Jean-Luc Mélenchon stopped in Toulouse for a giant outdoor meeting. This Sunday, April 3, at 2 p.m., the leader of the Insoumis is back at Place du Capitole. And as in 2017, it was in the Pink City, which had brought him to the top of the votes in the first round, that he ended his major outdoor meetings before that of the holograms on April 5, from Lille. In Toulouse, and in the images that will be broadcast throughout France, from these conquered lands, comes the strategic role of propellant in the second round, the one who is number 1 on the left in the polls.
If the date of the last weekend before the first round has been ticked on the candidate’s diary for a long time, the choice of the place has not been easy for the organizers. Designed as shows, these meetings meet several criteria, starting with the choice of a symbolic place, representative of a city, and easily accessible by public transport. This year, always to play the originality, the organizers aimed at the Stadium. But with the TFC matches and the lawn to be preserved, the Metropolis said no. Time to turn around, after insisting, the Prairie filters option, one of the rare places for such gatherings, had closed due to the organization of a running race.
Back to the Capitol
Although symbolic, the Capitol is therefore not the first choice of the Insoumis who thought bigger. How many spectators will attend? The 70,000 announced by the organizers in 2017 seem far away. Even the 40,000 prefecture figure for 2012. And with the expected cold, the organizers have revised the projections downwards. “From 25,000 to 30,000,” says Hélène Magdo, opposition municipal councilor and kingpin of the meeting. Knowing that the place contains 20,000 people if the gauge requested by the prefecture of three spectators per m2 is respected.
On the ground, such a crowd implies a large organization. No central stage, like at the Prairie des Filtres, because of the car park under the square, but in front of the Capitole gates, with its back to the building. With a giant screen on either side. For those who cannot access the square, a third screen will be installed on rue Lafayette. And a fourth rue Alsace. Above all, a large perimeter, surrounded by plots and barriers in the streets leading to the Capitol, will be closed to traffic. The cafe terraces will have to be folded at 11:30 a.m. The Capitole metro station will be closed. Some 300 activists, half of them for the service of order, will be mobilized. Finally, to transmit the precious images of the crowd, the organizers are negotiating the use of a drone with the prefecture.