Occitanie: call for a citizen rally against the far right on April 21 at Bikini, near Toulouse
A large rally against the far right, at the call of several left-wing political leaders from Occitanie, is to take place this Thursday, April 21 at 7 p.m. at the Bikini concert hall.
The second round of the presidential election, which promises to be tighter than expected between the outgoing president, Emmanuel Macron, and the far-right candidate, Marine Le Pen, has caused the political leaders of Occitanie to react, for the essential regional socialist and radical personalities.
Behind the president of the Occitanie Region, Carole Delga, the president of the Haute-Garonne departmental council, Georges Méric, but also the PRG deputy for Tarn-et-Garonne Sylvia Pinel, several parliamentarians but also mayors, regional and departmental councilors on the left signed a column denouncing the danger of the extreme right. Under the banner of “La République en commun”, they are organizing a citizen gathering, around artists, sportsmen, association leaders and entrepreneurs, this Thursday, April 21 at the Bikini de Ramonville Saint-Agne. Speeches, but also concerts, are announced.
“On April 24, the choice is clear: the Republic or the far right, say the signatories of the call for assembly. Democracy or authoritarianism. Europe, openness to the world or withdrawal. Tolerance or the designation of scapegoats because of the differences. We have the choice between Emmanuel Macron or Marine Le Pen. Our answer must be without appeal: we have chosen the Republic, we have chosen the Emmanuel Macron bulletin. It will not be a blank check for the outgoing president because another era will begin on April 25, in vigilant opposition and this, but we cannot resign ourselves to France, country of Enlightenment, of human rights , resistance and Gaullism, is governed by the far right”.
The symbolic date of April 21
April 21 is a symbolic date since twenty years ago, to the day, the far right led by Jean-Marie Le Pen qualified for the second round of the presidential election. “20 years ago, on April 21, our country was shocked by the qualification of Jean-Marie Le Pen in the second round of the presidential election and the whole of society reacted. Today, the far right brings together one in three voters and wants us to believe that it has changed. Behind the smile, anti-republican and discriminatory methods and ideas persist. The danger has never been so real. While the French are massively opposed to the extreme right, the current silence is too heavy. Occitania, its cities, its villages, its departments have always been lands of fraternal and progressive values. This is why we call, in conscience and responsibility, to participate in a gathering citizen on Thursday, April 21 in Ramonville to defend the Republic”.
Among the signatories of the call to rally against the far right: Carole Delga, president of the Occitanie Region; Michaël Delafosse, Mayor of Montpellier, Christine Tequi, President of the Department of Ariège; Georges Méric, President of the Department of Haute-Garonne; Philippe Dupouy, President of the Gers Department; Serge Rigal, President of the Lot Department; Hermeline Malherbe, President of the Department of the Pyrenees; Christophe Ramond, President of the Tarn Department; Michel Weill, President of the Department of Tarn-et-Garonne; MEP for Aude Eric Andrieu, Valérie Rabault, MP for Tarn-et-Garonne; Joël Aviragnet, MP for Haute-Garonne; Gisèle Biemouret, MP for Gers; Sylvia Pinel, MP for Tarn-et-Garonne; Emilienne Poumirol, Senator for Haute-Garonne; Claude Raynal, senator of Haute-Garonne etc.