Presidential Election in France - May 5, 2002
A Historic Challenge for Freedom, Equality and Fraternity
The outcome of the first round of the presidential election on April 21, 2002 was extremely alarming and shocking.The CCFD, our partner agency in France issued an urgent press release. MCC, ICMICA Federation in France is one of its member organizations.
Faced with disoriented opinion and a fractured country, the CCFD calls for putting solidarity and respect for democratic values back at the heart of society.
April 23, 2002
Following the first round of the presidential election, the CCFD declares itself extremely concerned by the political situation created by the presence of the National Front candidate in the second round.
The CCFD cannot remain silent in such circumstances. The ideas championed by Mr Le Pen and his party are irreconcilable with the vision of humanity, solidarity and hope promoted by our association. Rejection of foreigners, the vision of a France withdrawn into itself and the re-institution of capital punishment all constitute points totally opposed to the philosophy of an international solidarity association such as our own.
The CCFD considers it unacceptable that Mr Le Pen use images, symbols and words directly related to the Catholic Church. The CCFD calls on all Christians to be extremely vigilant so that the evangelical message of tolerance and love for one's neighbour are not perverted.
The CCFD considers that the struggle against social inequalities, as much at the global as national level, are the absolute priority if we want to heal the ills that are eating away at the world today: desperation, intolerance, violence and xenophobia. The CCFD calls for better distribution of wealth in order to build a fairer and more tolerant world in which the causes for xenophobic and law-and-order reactions will be reduced.
The CCFD, along with the help of all those who support it and with the commitment of 15,000 activists in all of France, will continue to contribute to this with all its energy.
Contact for the text in French and others, Vronique de La Martinire v.delamartiniere@ccfd.asso.fr
CCFD (Catholic Committee against Famine and for Development) www.ccfd.asso.fr
MCC (Mouvement Chrtien des Cadres et dirigeants) www.mcc.cef.fr