Fête de l’Humanité: Europe’s Left Unites for Peace & Rights

At the stand’s inauguration, in the presence of Walter Baier (President of the Party of the European Left), Sira Rego (Minister for Youth and Children, Spain), Marc Botenga (MEP, Belgian Labour Party), Rania Svigkou (Head of International relations, SYRIZA, Greece), Vincent Boulet (Vice-President of the EL), Anna Camposampiero (Rifondazione Comunista, Italy), Hélène Bidard (Political Secretariat of the EL) and Frédéric Faravel (Republican and Socialist Left), the speeches focused in particular on the EL’s actions to promote social transformation and peace in Europe.

During our debates, we addressed the crucial question: “Workers will not pay for their war: What new industry will serve the people and the planet?” together with trade unionists. Among the speakers, we had the pleasure of listening to Eric Campos (CUT, Chile), who shared a call for unity among left-wing forces, fuelled by the memory of past struggles, to face current threats such as the rise of the far right, as well as Nico Peeters, General Secretary of CGSP Gazelco (responsible for Europe of the PCF) demonstrated how capitalism is seeking new outlets to emerge from the crisis and justify social regression, and David Gobé (International Director of the CGT railway workers) provided a European perspective on transport issues.

The defence of women’s and LGBTQIA+ rights was also at the heart of the discussions, in partnership with the PCF’s Proud and Revolutionary Commission. Jeanne Péchon and Anna Camposampiero (Rifondazione, Italy) denounced the reactionary policies of far-right governments, emphasising the urgent need for joint feminist, LGBTQIA+ and anti-fascist mobilisation in Europe.

Of course, our President Walter Baier and Vice-President Vincent Boulet took part in key events in solidarity with Palestine, organised by the PCF, in the presence of Fabien Roussel (PCF National Secretary) and Ahmad Saïd Tamimi (member of the PLO Executive Committee).

Among the other highlights of the weekend was a debate entitled “European progressives facing the far right” at the stand of the cooperative of local elected representatives, which brought together a high-level round table, available for replay on YouTube. The debate was introduced by Philippe Rio, Mayor of Grigny (France) and President of the cooperative of elected representatives. You can listen the speeches by:

  • Elke Kahr, Mayor of Graz (Austria),
  • Walter Baier, president of the EL,
  • Anna Camposampiero, Rifondazione (Italy),
  • Hélène Bidard, member of the PCF national executive in charge of relations with the EL,

During this 90th edition of the Fête de l’Humanité, which brought together more than 610,000 people south of Paris, the EL stand was a place for discussion with festival-goers interested in our latest campaigns on housing and peace.

Find details of the programme for Friday and Saturday/Sunday.

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