Emmanuel Macron will mark this Thursday the 175th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in France, with a tribute to Toussaint Louverture, "
tireless fighter
" for freedom, at the Château de Joux in the Doubs where the Franco-Haitian general was imprisoned until 'on his death, announced the Elysée.
Expected at midday, the head of state must lay a wreath in front of the bust of the freed slave before delivering a speech.
This year, as in 2018, the president has chosen to celebrate the date of April 27, 1848, which corresponds to Victor Schoelcher's decree abolishing slavery in France.
The executive should therefore be represented by Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne at the traditional ceremony in the Luxembourg Gardens on May 10, which celebrates the anniversary of the Taubira law of 2001 which recognized slavery as a crime against humanity.
Read alsoSlavery, the tragedy of the centuries
Emmanuel Macron intends to combine this historical reminder this year with the 280th anniversary of the birth and the 220th anniversary of the disappearance of Toussaint Louverture, who died in the fortress in April 1803. Through this meeting, there are "three memories of
the slavery that we commemorate
”, said an adviser to the president on Wednesday: “
the memory of the victims
”, since Toussaint Louverture was born a slave, “
the memory of the abolitionists
” and “
the memory of the heroes
”.
This “
universal figure
”, who gained “
knowledge
” and who “
all his life will defend
” the ideals of the Enlightenment, was “
a soldier and a revolutionary general
” who will lead all his fights “
in the name of the French revolution
”, pointed out another adviser.
“
Even when France moves away from these ideals
“, he added, since he was imprisoned in 1802 at the Château de Joux, without trial, accused of high treason and rebellion, under the orders of the consul Napoleon Bonaparte.
As with each trip by the President of the Republic and his ministers since the promulgation of his highly contested pension reform, a demonstration is planned nearby, even if access to the castle, which overlooks the region in the Jura massif, should be barred to protesters.
The CGT du Doubs has already announced that the inter-union Pontarlier would give "
a pan concert at the foot of the Château de Joux
".
"
Plan something to make noise to make people hear that 64 is still no!"
said the union in an appeal to its members and supporters.
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