- In Toulouse, the Animalist Party chose not to make an alliance and to present an autonomous list to the municipal authorities.
- The young candidate Quentin Charoy, who aims for 5% of the votes "at least", leads a resolute campaign and distributes the claws.
- 20 Minutes attended its second meeting.
Do you remember the cute cats that bloomed on the electoral panels during the legislative elections of 2017? This time, it's a squirrel, just as cute, who will make you an eye for the municipal ones. The one who nests on the posters of Toulouse animalist, the list "which defends the interests of animals because they are sentient beings".
Some still smile, not the main stakeholders. Since the Animalist Party (PA) has, against all odds, gleaned 500,000 votes (2.17%) from the last Europeans, the supporters of the cause know that they are on the rise. Enough so that in the Pink City, an "autonomous" list is made up, led by Quentin Charoy. This entrepreneur, barely 25 years old, is not there to do figuration and trigger a reflex vote with “so cute” animals. It targets 5% "at least" and, like any candidate, it now holds meetings. Like the one on Tuesday, in the San Subra room, the little "chapel" of its kind.
On the menu, shellfish and ballots
So, as much to say right away, there was no pet at this public meeting. Just thirty people, ranging from young students to senior anti-pesticides, activist from the activist association L214 to the young girl worried about the crustaceans baked alive in bags at the Victor-Hugo market.
Paule, a free chat volunteer and host family for homeless cats, is not to be convinced. "I have already voted for the PA and I will do it again," says the one who was able to clarify the assistance on the very small envelope "from 5,000 to 6,000 euros" that the current municipality devotes to the sterilization of stray tomcats. Another supporter came to check that "this time" he would not have to print his ballot himself. "There will be ballots in all the offices" and tellers to make sure everything is going well, reassured Quentin Charoy at the podium.
Supported by two pointed running mates on technical questions - Ophélie Baletan, a 25-year-old account manager and Julien Holmgren, a 37-year-old English trainer and pet-sitter - the young candidate developed the key points of his program. After a moment of retreat and a surprised smile at the first round of applause, he described, without using the conditional tense, a world where animals matter: a world that says yes to the third metro line as long as the animals of company are accepted in one of the trains of the convoy; where the Ehpad managed by the town hall allow the elderly to spend their old age with their dogs or cats; where "those who don't have a lot of money" can come and have their animals treated at a municipal dispensary.
Nobody talks about it…
But Quentin Charoy and his friends (35 years of average age and 100% civil society) do not intend to be the Bears of the campaign. They gladly distribute the claw strokes. They are surprised, for example, that other candidates can spread as much about ecology without ever talking about animals. Not to mention "the current mayor" who "gassed the pigeons and never listened to the animals, nor their distress". The squirrel has long, sharp teeth.
Politics
European elections: The animal vote, which drew 2.2% of the vote in May, deciphered by a study
Politics
Municipal 2020: The Animalist Party will present independent lists
- Animals
- municipal
- Toulouse
- Elections