“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? And integrate the voice of young people, students and the academic world into these debates which concern all of society.” This is how MP Mélanie Thomin defended, Friday May 14, the public meeting on Defense in Brest, organized Monday at the UBO and contested by three student unions.
A reading which clearly does not convince the European University of Peace: “Is there not a certain naivety in believing that, through a simple debate, we will make young people aware of defense issues, when, since 1958, our people have been deprived of all responsibility in this matter, for the exclusive benefit of the President of the Republic,” mocks the UEP.
“End the reserved domain of the president”
“So that all our fellow citizens – and not just young people – invest or reinvest in the political field of defense, would it not first be appropriate to mobilize public opinion so that the reserved domain of the head of state, a true denial of democracy, is put to an end? Would this not be the effective action that should be taken by an elected representative of the Nation concerned with “bringing citizens closer to defense issues”? And then, is it not at least as important for an elected official to act to develop the spirit of peace, as it is true that lasting peace is never built by force of arms?,” further questions the European University of Peace.
