Organizer of a public meeting entitled “Finistère residents facing war: bringing citizens closer to defense issues at a time of new conflicts”, which will take place this Monday, May 18, 2026 in Brest, at the University of Western Brittany (UBO), the MP Mélanie Thomin reacted to the comments of three student unions (Ferc Sup CGT UBO, Sud Éducation and the Pirate Union) who are calling for demonstrations that day. “The objective of this debate meeting is to carry out propaganda to enlist youth in national defense and the army,” they believe.
“Open a citizen debate around a serious subject”
This is not the point of view of the socialist elected representative of the sixth constituency of Finistère (Châteaulin-Carhaix): “This meeting is not organized with a logic of government communication or “war propaganda”. Nor does it aim to “enroll” young people. On the contrary, this meeting proposes to open a citizen debate around a serious subject: how should our Republic rethink today the link between the Nation and its armies, in a disrupted international context?
“The choice of a meeting at UBO is fully accepted. Organizing this meeting in a public university, in the heart of a student and maritime city like Brest, allows us to integrate the voice of young people, students and the academic world into these debates which concern all of society. Finistère is, moreover, a strategic territory of defense, scientific research, maritime industry and military presence We are directly concerned by these issues. It is therefore legitimate that these debates can take place here, while respecting the pluralism of opinions.
A meeting proposed in advance to the unions
“I refuse the idea that youth should be kept at a distance from major national issues. On the contrary, our collective responsibility is to open spaces for discussion to allow citizens to obtain information and freely form their opinions. Convinced that we can approach these subjects in a republican, constructive and peaceful spirit, I will propose, ahead of this public meeting, to receive the student organizations which wish to do so.”
