Young Green Leaders in Bordeaux Push for Radical Ecological Politics

Two young researchers from Bordeaux-Montaigne University, Lucile Berthomé and Thomas Jaffeux, have emerged as new voices leading the political Greens in Bordeaux with a call for a radical and systemic ecological approach. Motivated by their participation in a youth-driven political list, they openly criticize the existing ecologist leadership under Pierre Hurmic, attributing its failure to a lack of political combativeness and refusal to form alliances with La France Insoumise, which they see as critical missteps leading to Thomas Cazenave's electoral victory. Berthomé and Jaffeux advocate for an ecology that confronts capitalism, fascism, racism, speciesism, and patriarchy simultaneously, with a strong focus on basic social needs such as employment, cost of living, food, and housing. They highlight the lived experience of extreme heat in Bordeaux as a tangible symbol connecting social justice to ecological responsibility. Their stance is intellectually shaped by Clément Sénéchal's book "Pourquoi l’écologie perd toujours," which examines the systemic shortcomings of previous ecological movements. This young duo represents a fresh, assertive green political force in Bordeaux, emphasizing the necessity of radical systemic change ahead of future elections.