What remains of the "yellow vests"?
Three years ago to the day, a historic mobilization began which was to block roundabouts and invade city centers for several months.
Today, there are only a handful of die-hards who meet every Saturday during sporadic demonstrations.
The movement of "yellow vests" however marked the French.
According to an Ipsos-Sopra Steria poll for France Inter published on Wednesday, 40% of those polled say they felt close to the movement - and eight out of ten consider that the wave of “yellow vests” could again emerge in France.
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Gasoline prices, purchasing power, access to energy… It is clear, however, that their demands have not borne fruit.
“The reasons for mobilization are still present.
Purchasing power has continued to decline, living conditions have not improved, relations with elected officials are still the same, ”
lists Christian Le Bart, researcher at the CNRS and author in 2020 of
Little sociology of yellow vests
.
Between weariness and anger, this observation is double-edged.
“On the one hand, the reasons for discontent have not been resolved and a spontaneous movement could reform.
On the other hand, there is a certain fatigue of the actors after an experience which was intense, but sterile ”,
continues the researcher.
Networks of "sociability"
No concrete result, of course. But a mobilization of this magnitude cannot remain without consequences: certain links forged on roundabouts are doomed to last, according to Emmanuelle Reungoat, lecturer in political science at the University of Montpellier and author of a investigation into the "yellow vests". “A
whole network of sociability and mutual acquaintances has been created, with a way out of isolation for some people. We have seen the emergence of solidarity, for example, between single mothers. The people who met on the roundabouts even speak of “family”
, says the political scientist.
These networks could reactivate, or even re-mobilize.
"
Especially since there has been, among a large part of the population, an awareness of an average, peri-urban France, in which many see themselves.
According to the Ispos-Sopra poll for France Inter, 12% of French people have taken part at least once in a demonstration of yellow vests.
"The main achievement of the movement was to give visibility to a certain France, a peri-urban France, which faces problems of concern to all
," continues Christian Le Bart.
There remains the image of anger to which public opinion grants a certain legitimacy and great empathy
”
.
Read alsoBefore the regional, the State is interested in "peri-urban"
Towards other protest movements
After this awareness, many “yellow vests” tasted politics for the first time. "
There was a first experience of politicization, with meetings, speeches, negotiations, among people who were generally not politicized at the grassroots
", analyzes Emmanuelle Reungoat. It remains to be seen what will happen to this first experience of protest. Could it be reflected on the electoral level, with the approach of the presidential election?
“There will probably not be a single electoral force. The “yellow vests” were a very heterogeneous movement, which brought together very divergent political opinions. They evacuated the issues that crystallize their difference, such as the migration issue for example, to focus on their discontent
», Observes the political scientist.
This is also why, in three years, the movement has little or no institutionalized.
“They were too distrustful of politics, and of any form of leadership, to organize in part or in a union.
The movement is condemned, by its structure, to exist by spontaneous generation.
Which makes it fragile… And unpredictable,
”says Christian Le Bart.
On the other hand, the "yellow vests" who have tasted politics could well, in the future, re-mobilize.
"This first experience is an entry into other political protest practices, such as the anti-health pass movements, for example,
" concludes Emmanuelle Reungoat.
