Soyons Libres (SL) (French pronunciation: [swajɔ̃ libʁ]), also called Libres, (English: Let's be free), is a French political party that was founded in 2017 by Valérie Pécresse, within The Republicans.[4]

Let's Be Free
Soyons Libres
PresidentValérie Pécresse
ChairpersonÉric Pauget
FounderValérie Pécresse
Founded10 September 2017 (2017-09-10)
HeadquartersParis
IdeologyLiberal conservatism
Gaullism
Economic liberalism
Pro-Europeanism[citation needed]
Anti-immigration[1][2]
Political positionCentre-right[3]
National affiliationThe Republicans
Union of the Right and Centre
(2017-2019, since 2021)
Colours  Blue
National Assembly
2 / 577
Senate
2 / 348
Website
www.soyonslibres.fr

History edit

An offshoot of Changer c'est possible (2008) and Action Île-de-France (2011), Soyons libres was created on September 10, 2017 by Valérie Pécresse. The media launch takes place at a meeting attended by some 2,000 people in Argenteuil in October 2017.[5][6] Soyons libres is recognized as a movement associated with LR by Laurent Wauquiez in January 2018, at an LR national council meeting [ref. needed].

Valérie Pécresse positions herself as an opponent of Laurent Wauquiez within LR.[7] A proponent of a more liberal[ref needed], center-right and Europhile line, she denounces the party's shrinking electoral base and the existence of "two rightists that need to be reconciled" within the party.[8] Her initiative aims to unite all the way to the center and tackle new themes such as ecology and digital.[9]

In 2018, she supports the Philippe government on the law on student orientation and success[10] and SNCF reform.[11] However, she believes that the government is not going far enough with its reforms and declares her opposition to a rapprochement of the right and center in both La République en marche (LREM) and Rassemblement national (RN): she wants to create a "third way", as advocated by Gérard Larcher's initiative following the 2019 European elections.

Valérie Pécresse leaves Les Républicains on June 5, 2019, following the poor score obtained by the Les Républicains-Les Centristes list in the European elections and before the holding of an election for the party presidency for which she was given as a possible candidate.[12][13] She cited the impossibility of forming a broader political organization, claiming that "the party is locked from the inside, in its organization and in its ideas".[14] In her wake, several people close to her left the party, including Robin Reda and Florence Portelli.[15]

Politicians edit

References edit

  1. ^ Victor Mallet (1 July 2020), French centre-right faces identity crisis Financial Times.
  2. ^ "Valérie Pécresse veut "construire la droite de demain"". Atlantico.fr (in French). 7 June 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Meet Valérie Pécresse, the French centre-right hopeful". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  4. ^ "Valérie Pécresse veut "construire la droite de demain"". Atlantico.fr (in French). 7 June 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  5. ^ "Valérie Pécresse lance "Libres !", son mouvement au sein des Républicains". francetvinfo.fr. 9 July 2017..
  6. ^ "Réinventer la politique depuis le terrain". lesechos.fr. Retrieved 22 February 2018..
  7. ^ "LR : Valérie Pécresse s'oppose déjà à Laurent Wauquiez". lepoint.fr. 15 December 2017..
  8. ^ "Valérie Pécresse annonce sa démission des Républicains". lefigaro.fr. 5 June 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019..
  9. ^ "Libres !: le nouveau parti de Valérie Pecresse". challenges.fr. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2019..
  10. ^ "Universités : Pécresse soutient la réforme et la " fermeté " du gouvernement". bfmtv.com. Retrieved 27 May 2018..
  11. ^ "Valérie Pécresse : " Je soutiens la réforme de la SNCF "". lemonde.fr. Retrieved 27 May 2018..
  12. ^ "Valérie Pécresse annonce sa démission des Républicains". lefigaro.fr. 5 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019..
  13. ^ "Démission de Laurent Wauquiez : et maintenant, qui pour diriger les Républicains ?". lci.fr. 3 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019..
  14. ^ "Valérie Pécresse annonce son départ des Républicains". bfmtv.com. Retrieved 21 September 2019..
  15. ^ "Départs en série chez LR après la démission de Valérie Pécresse". bfmtv.com. Retrieved 21 September 2019..
  16. ^ "Valérie Pécresse dote Libres! d'un organigramme". L'Opinion (in French). 15 February 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  17. ^ à 20h20, Par Nolwenn CossonLe 5 juin 2019; À 20h42, Modifié Le 5 Juin 2019 (5 June 2019). "Le député de l'Essonne Robin Reda quitte Les Républicains dans le sillage de Valérie Pécresse". leparisien.fr (in French). Retrieved 1 January 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

External links edit