Equality and Reconciliation (French: Égalité et Réconciliation) (E&R) is a political association created in June 2007 by Alain Soral,[1] former militant of the French Communist Party, and also a former member of the central committee of the far-right National Front (2007). Other founders are Jildaz Mahé O'Chinal and Philippe Péninque, two former activists of the Groupe Union Défense (GUD)
Égalité et Réconciliation | |
| Formation | 2007 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis, France |
| Methods | conferences, manifestos |
| Fields | Far-right and antisemitic activism |
President | Alain Soral |
Key people | Philippe Péninque Dieudonné M'bala M'bala |
| Website | www |
The political association describes itself as cross factional and "left nationalist",[2] and states its intention to bring together "citizens who are part of the nation that determines political action and social policy which are the foundations of the Brotherhood, an essential component of national unity," and that it is "on the Left for work and on the Right for morals."
Most analysts describe the association as belonging to the extreme right and state that it is a breeding ground for future National Front activists.[3] Several observers consider that it is antisemitic as it develops a strong discourse against Israel occupation of Palestinian lands and the supposed "Zionist expansionist ideology" and lobby in France.[4] On February 14, 2023, the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE) released a report in which it classified Égalité et Réconciliation as a "conspiracy" and "antisemitic" group.
Ideology
editDefending the position of Alain Soral, the founder of the organisation, whose position can be summarised in the title of a text which he wrote: "Left for the workers and Right for morals",[5] for a national reconciliation, Equality and Reconciliation advocates the union of the "Labour left" (Marxist) and the "Moral Right" (Nationalism and Patriotism) in response to capitalist globalization and its consequences which are considered harmful, on the model of the Proudhon Circle, which brought together trade unionists, anarchists, and Maurrassians.
Alain Soral's analysis criticised liberal financial capitalism and the involvement of traditional political parties in it. At the same time the Socialist Party and the UMP were the target of his attacks. Formerly from the French Communist Party, Alain Soral considers that this party collapsed after renouncing class struggle and because of the competition - in electoral terms - of the Trotskyites, represented especially by parties such as Workers Struggle and the League of Revolutionary Communists. They, notably Olivier Besancenot, according to him were complicit in the policies of Nicolas Sarkozy: sharing the same policy of "selective immigration" defended by Nicolas Sarkozy and demands for regularization of undocumented migrants from the extreme left, he accused Olivier Besancenot of supplying to Nicolas Sarkozy a "humanist alibi" to its "neoliberal" policy, which would make him a "useful idiot" for the system.
Also rejecting a "Federal" Europe, considered to be a "Trojan horse" of liberalism, he advocates a return to national sovereignty in order to implement a policy of "national preference" which would apply to "ethnic" French people and those who have immigrated who have become "integrated" and those born in France of foreign descent. He wants to rally opposition to the Treaty of Rome 2004 which established a Constitution for Europe, and is particularly opposed to the European Fiscal Compact.[6]
Even if the FN, who are traditionally anti-communist, rejects the class struggle, E&R believes that the class struggle (of Marxism) and Poujadism (historical ideology of the FN) might get confused in a more general project of "defense of workers", the employees, and the owners of small businesses (SMEs).
Equality & Reconciliation therefore supports the FN and its president Marine Le Pen, while constituting an independent structure that wishes for a "patriotic" union with the disillusioned left, the "bobos" and victims of the "financial right". Some originators of the association, such as Frédéric Chatillon and Philippe Péninque are also close to Marine Le Pen.[7]
The movement also expressed their approval of non-aligned countries, such as the Russia of Vladimir Putin (for whom they organized a welcoming committee during his visit to France in late 2009, in partnership with the Embassy of Russia and the French Russian community[8]), the Venezuela of Hugo Chávez, Serbia, Iran, and Palestine. The movement opposes the French Zionists, who he accused of playing a game contrary to the interests of France and the French Jewish community. The movement also opposes feminists and is against women working outside the home.[9]
Activities
editThe association, which is present in most regions of France, offers many activities: militant, intellectual, cultural and sporting. If it was originally intended to become a political party (the transition was to have taken place in March 2010[10]), they have finally renounced this idea,[11] preferring to do politics differently.
The official website offers a press review and a review of videos available on the internet. A poster campaign was announced on 14 July 2008, the poster is composed of a slogan "Long live nationalism!" encircled by portraits of important contemporary political figures: Fidel Castro, Vladimir Putin, Hugo Chavez, Patrice Lumumba, and Thomas Sankara.[12]
Alain Soral participated in 5th position, in the "anti-Zionist List" presented in the Ile-de-France region by Dieudonné for the 2009 European Parliament election, and received 1.30% of votes in the region.[13]
In 2010, Equality & Reconciliation launched a poster campaign entitled "We want a French Chavez!",[14] marking an ideological proximity and support for the Venezuelan President in his fight against "American imperialism".
Universities
editOn 8 and 9 September 2007, at Villepreux, the first summer university of the association was held, organized by Marc George and which was attended by Dieudonné, Christian Bouchet, Jean-Marie Le Pen,[15] Farid Smahi,[16][17] Serge Ayoub,[18] Jean Robin,[19][20] also Giorgio Damiani, webmaster of Vox NR; and Ugo Gaudenzi, director of the Italian daily Rinascita.[21] The event was also assisted by some former militants of GUD, such as Philippe Péninque and Jildaz Mahé O'Chinal.[21]
A second University of the association took place at Villepreux on 1 and 2 November 2008. Alain Soral made a presentation on his trip to Serbia and closing remarks, Jacques Cheminade spoke on the global economic crisis and Christian Bouchet on geopolitics. Eight workshops were also organized, devoted to the EU against the nation, the economic line of E&R, Marx and the nation, the strategy of E&R, propaganda and activism, the French identity in 2008, communication tools available to the association, and cultural resistance.[22]
Membership
editIn March 2008, the association claimed 600 members,[23] however Marc George, then national coordinator, announced in May of the same year "800 supporters and 300 paid up members."[24] In September 2009, Alain Soral announced that the association had 800 members, mostly young.[25] The association claimed the same number in spring 2012. E&R always maintains that 150 demonstrators marched in Paris under the banner of the movement on Labour Day, 1 May 2008,[26] in the parade that the National Front organizes every year.
Controversy
editAccording to the blog "Extreme Rightist(s)" in February 2010, Marc George, secretary general of the movement, was dismissed from his post for publishing on the website of the Association a video looking at the Harkis apology and announcing a possible memorial to the death of François Duprat.[27] He left the organization shortly after.[28]
Notes and references
edit- ^ "Alain Soral presented "Equality and Reconciliation"(Fr)", L'Organe magazine, 21.
- ^ "On Communism and Nationalism: Itinerary of a French Intellectual" allocution prononcée à Vénissieux le vendredi 2 mars 2007.
- ^ E&R, Enquiry on the breeding grounds of the FN, consulted on 2 February 2013
- ^ "Entretien avec Alain Soral sur l'arrestation de Dieudonné et la liberté d'expression en France". Egalité & Réconciliation.fr. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- ^ Integrated Transcription, website of E&R.
- ^ Anti-TSCG, the game of seven families, Slate, 28 September 2012
- ^ Equality & Reconciliation : Enquiry on the breeding ground of the FN, Street 89, 9 May 2012
- ^ Abel Mestre et Caroline Monnot, "Alain Soral and his association make sheep eyes at Putin" Archived 10 December 2012 at the Wayback Machine, blog "Extreme Rightists" of journalists quoted in Le Monde published by their website on 26 November 2009
- ^ Objectifnumber1 (21 May 2013). "SORAL VS FEMINISTE". Retrieved 27 February 2019 – via YouTube.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Abel Mestre et Caroline Monnot, "Duprat, the idol of soraliens; Sidos on CD and other digital news", blog "Extreme Rightist(s)" of journalists from the daily Le Monde published by the site on 12 February 2010 Archived 29 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Abel Mestre et Caroline Monnot, "End of the party for Alain Soral" Archived 30 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine, blog "Extreme Rightist(s)" of journalists from the daily Le Monde published by the site on 23 février 2010.
- ^ "E & R appears and steals the street!", site of Equality & Reconciliation, 14 July 2008
- ^ "Dieudonné unveils its list of 'anti-Zionists'", The Point, 9 May 2009
- ^ ""We want a French Chavez"" (PDF). Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- ^ "Speech on the occasion of the Summer University of Equality and Reconciliation" Archived 15 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine Website of the National Front, 10 September 2007.
- ^ "Speech Farid Smahi on the theme of citizenship", website of Equality & Reconciliation, 21 September 2007.
- ^ Nicolas Gauthier, Nicolas Gauthier, "First Summer School of Equality and Reconciliation: A little of the Proudhon Circle ..." Archived 30 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Editorial National-Hebdo, the site of Vox NR, 12 September 2007.
- ^ "Alain Soral: findings of UDT at Villepreux", website of Equality & Reconciliation, 21 September 2007.
- ^ Jean Robin, published in Jewish News, Equality & Reconciliation, 23 January 2008
- ^ French anti-Semitism is well, thank you for it! Archived 6 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine Survey & Debate, 13 April 2012
- ^ a b Jean-Yves Camus, "Alain Soral together with Le Pen, Dieudonné and Islamists" Archived 23 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Jewish News, No. 994, 3 October 2007.
- ^ "Egalite et Réconciliation". www.egaliteetreconciliation.fr. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- ^ figure announced by Alain Soral to [1] Radio Parisian Here and Now, on 29 March 2008.
- ^ "E & R Podcast # 1 - Marc George", website of Equality & Reconciliation, 20 May 2008.
- ^ "during an interview on a chat show that can be heard here". Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- ^ "Video Mayday - E&R the huge national wave", 6 May 2008
- ^ Abel Mestre et Caroline Monnot, Abel Mestre and Caroline Monnot, "Equality and Reconciliation in its (heads of) work(s)" Archived 28 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine, blog "Extreme Rightist(s)" of journalists from the daily Le Monde published by their website 15 February 2010
- ^ Abel Mestre et Caroline Monnot, Abel Mestre and Caroline Monnot, "No more bets on Equality and Reconciliation" Archived 10 December 2012 at the Wayback Machine, blog "Extreme Rightist(s)" of journalists from the daily Le Monde published by their website 16 February 2010