The 33rd edition of the “Les Affranchis” festival will take place from July 3 to 5 in La Flèche, Sarthe. An event that promotes culture and street performances. However, with the election of the National Rally at the head of the city, some artists may choose not to participate.
In July, the streets of La Flèche will host the 33rd edition of the Les Affranchis Festival. Following the shift in municipal leadership to the far right, several cultural events have been canceled due to artist boycotts. Camille Gélin and her company, Les Assoiffés d’Azur, have confirmed their presence at the festival this summer. The election of a candidate from the National Rally in La Flèche has caused them “a wave of emotions and shock.” “We were stunned and needed a few days to digest it and to imagine the next steps.”
However, they are not considering canceling. “We believe that in times like these, people need culture, they need shows,” said the artist. “They need places to come together, to gather. We need spaces for emotions, thoughts, laughter, tears, and sharing. And that is something we will not let them steal from us.”
This decision is made while emphasizing the political dimension of any cultural event. “Le Puy du Fou, when they put on grandiose shows that reveal a certain vision of French history that is uniquely theirs, that’s political,” explains the young woman. “When we create a theater project in a rural area accessible to all, a popular and demanding theater, that’s political.”
On the other hand, Florian Basoge and his association “La Flèche not dead” mobilize around sixty volunteers for the festival each year. And their decision is final: they will no longer participate in an event that promotes street performances.
“We have always taken a stand against the far right, so it was impossible for us to continue working with the municipality,” he said. “Les Affranchis is an event intimately linked to the city of La Flèche, so we stand firm, we do not collaborate with the city, so we will not participate in an event that uses a lot of resources from it.”
In the end, it is Richard Le Normand, director of Carroi, the organizing association, who finds himself in a dilemma and must deal with these two positions. But for him, there is no question of giving in, and he wants the event to take place.
“If we cancel the event, we obviously deprive many people who made a different choice in the polls. These are people who do not have the right to vote, children who are not involved in this situation. This is a project that is carried and that is the DNA of Carroi. It is not a festival decided or organized by a National Rally municipality.”
A message that seems to have been heard, as the companies contacted since the elections are maintaining their commitment to the festival.
Interviewed by our teams, the new Mayor of La Flèche, Romain Lemoigne, noted an “quite marginal phenomenon in reality” and which “punishes the residents of La Flèche.”
“I think it is an active and militant minority that wanted to scare the associations,” said Romain Lemoigne, Mayor of La Flèche.
Furthermore, he confirms his support for the cultural event. “There is no reason for me to remove this festival. Culture is absolutely crucial, it is essential for social ties, for links between residents. It will be a priority and it will remain so for the next six years.”
This statement should reassure the team of the Les Affranchis Festival, who will remain vigilant regarding any potential interference from the municipality in the programming of future editions.
