Fifty young people prevented the former President of the Republic François Hollande from speaking in Lille 2 about the crisis of democracy.
“Precariousness kills”, can be read on the sign of a protester in the Amphitheater F Lille 2
Protesters sometimes hooded, forcing the doors of an amphitheater, tearing off pages of the last book of François Hollande and throwing them in the air. This is the scene that took place Tuesday afternoon (11/12) at the University of Lille 2, upstream of a conference on the crisis of democracy that was to give François Hollande at 14:30, as part of the promotion of his latest book Answering the Democratic Crisis. According to the professor of constitutional law who was to animate the conference, Jean-Philippe Derosier, “About fifty demonstrators” have entered the amphitheater “F“, shortly before the start of exchanges.
On the videos published by the University on Twitter, there are demonstrators brandishing flags of the union “Solidaires“. “There were 1000 students enrolled in the conference who were waiting to debate with President Hollande in two separate amphitheatres”, deplores Jean-Philippe Derosier. He regrets that the amphitheater was occupied for an hour, and that various songs and slogans “Anticapitalist!“, “Holland assassin!” were sung. “President Hollande did not come to create hatred. Works were torn down, a theater was ransacked. It’s unfortunate,” a professor pleads.
At the same time, the former head of state was in another room of the university. Faced with the situation, he preferred to turn around: his conference was canceled, without any other date being announced. “(He) did not want to speak in these conditions,” said his entourage, not wishing to “make any comment” on the torn books, which had previously been installed on a table in the amphitheater.
In a release issued late afternoon, Francois Hollande said he had “always placed youth and social justice at the heart of his five-year term.“If he claims to “understand the legitimate emotion,” he regrets that “this emotion has turned into violence.” The socialist, visiting Arras (Pas-de-Calais) in the morning, had to debate during nearly an hour and a half with students about the crisis of democracy, subject of his latest book.
“Sanctions will be taken”
According to Jean-Philippe Derosier, the demonstration on Tuesday “fits in the national context, with the tragedy of Lyon last Friday“, where a 22-year-old student set himself on fire in front of the building of the regional center of works academic and academic (Crous). “I accuse Macron, Hollande, Sarkozy and the European Union of killing me, creating uncertainty about the future of all.” wrote Anas K before taking action. “Lyon, Lyon, neither oblivion no forgiveness.” chanted the protesters blocking the conference of François Hollande.
The same morning, another attempt to block had taken place “by the same group even more restricted.” says Cyrille Macron. 300 to 400 people then gathered at midday, in front of the Crous de Lille, with signs saying: “Precariousness kills, solidarity makes live“. The students then marched through the streets of Lille and some entered the Faculty of Law.
Go French 