Historical roots of neo-fascism in La Réunion

A political scientist, Damien Deschamps, has identified historical and contemporary factors that may contribute to the emergence of neo-fascist tendencies in La Réunion. His analysis spans from the colonial era to modern political alignments, highlighting issues such as slavery, colonialism, ultra-conservatism among elites, Petainism, collaboration, and the lack of political structure among elected officials.

Defining the far right

Deschamps defines the far right by its anti-republican and anti-parliamentary stance, distrust of foreigners, and a nationalist discourse that is essentially "ethnicist," defining nationality based on origin rather than birthplace. He argues that while slavery was not a political positioning, it generated an extremely conservative electorate.

Historical far-right developments

The far-right thought, before Hitler and Mussolini, developed around racist or royalist theses, becoming evident with antisemitism during the Dreyfus affair. Local versions of anti-republican and anti-revolutionary leagues appeared in the 1930s. Deschamps cites Roger Payet, director of a sugar factory, whose mobilization was accompanied by anti-zarab riots.

Collaboration and resistance

The lack of a structured resistance movement during World War II is noted, with sympathies for the far right expressed by elites, including Alexis de Villeneuve's Nazi salute during a parade in Saint-Denis. Paul Vergès, who was condemned and later amnestied for the murder of Alexis de Villeneuve, allied with René Payet and was considered a "hero" of the Resistance for his commitment to the French Free Forces.

Modern far-right trends

Deschamps highlights a rightward drift in the overseas electorates on the identity theme during the 2017 presidential election, noting the National Front's shift from a racist image to an anti-Islam discourse. He cites conferences against the "great replacement" of Reunionnais by the zoreys held by Philippe Cadet and speeches that "flirt largely with antisemitism."

Political dynamics and challenges

The rise of Le Pen is explained by similar causes as in the mainland: a middle class increasingly worried. Mayors of Reunion, "more moderate than their voters," have hindered the local implantation of the National Rally. However, the mobilization potential of its voters can be very strong due to a strong abstention rate among the disadvantaged classes.

Local political ambiguity

Deschamps questions the lack of reaction from local elected officials, suggesting they may not be republicans and that their focus on local preference may have led them to forget the republic. He finds the "living together" discourse ambiguous, as it may convey the idea of "closure."

European implications

Opportunism allows populist arguments of the far right to serve short-term political interests. A majority brown in the European parliament could have consequences, with countries like Hungary or Poland demanding a "rebalancing" at the expense of ultra-peripheral regions such as La Réunion, whose European aid exceeds 2 billion euros between 2020 and 2027. The weakening of the European project could call into question the long-term protection of the most vulnerable citizens.