On Monday, France’s universities and colleges expressed dismay at Marine Le Pen’s National Alert following the first round of parliamentary elections, saying higher education and “the opportunities it offers to all young people are at risk”.
(Press release) France Universités, la CDEFM, la Cdefi, et la CGE disent non au Rassemblement national pour les Universités et les écoles.#LegislativeElections2024 https://t.co/1tHHcmJ4iy pic.twitter.com/lRQ3a5eFe2
— Universities of France (@FranceUniv) July 1, 2024
“The results of the first round show that there is a real risk that the Rassemblement National will have a large majority in the National Assembly on the night of the second round,” the universities wrote in a joint statement.
France Universités, which brings together 74 universities, the Conference of Directors of French Business Schools (CDEFM), the Conference of Directors of Engineering Schools (Cdefi) and the Conference of Grandes Écoles (CGE) believe that “the threat is immediate, real and unprecedented” and “must be addressed seriously and decisively”.
“Because it is based on the principles of exclusion and distancing, but also on fear and rejection of others, the National Rally policy endangers our higher education system and the opportunities it offers to all young people, regardless of their background, origin or social environment,” they insist.