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Free Dom

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Free Dom
FounderCamille and Margie Sudre
Founded1992
HeadquartersSaint-Denis, Réunion
Ideology
Website
freedom.fr

Free Dom is a left-wing political party in the French overseas department of Réunion, closely associated with the Communist Party of Réunion (PCR). It was founded in 1996 by Camille and Margie Sudre.

History

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Radio Free Dom was established by Camille Sudre and his wife Margie in 1981.[1] Its success led to the creation of a television channel, Télé Free Dom, a few years later.

However, Télé Free Dom was quickly deemed illegal and shut down by the Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel (CSA), which prohibited its broadcasts.[2][3] This decision was seen as "silencing the voice of the people", leading to a series of clashes between youths and riot police (CRS) in Saint-Denis in February 1991, an event known as the "Événements du Chaudron [fr].[4][5]

Recognizing the underlying social unrest in Réunion, Camille Sudre founded a political movement named Free Dom, which he led. In 1992, he was elected President of the Regional Council of Réunion with a platform focused on achieving social equality with metropolitan France.[6] However, his election was annulled by the Conseil d'État the following year due to campaign finance violations, prompting new elections.[7][8]

Margie Sudre succeeded her husband as head of the institution but soon diverged from his political views, moving closer to the right and joining the government in 1995.[9] Despite her departure, the Free Dom movement continued, maintaining a close relationship with PCR. Together, they formed the electoral alliance Alliance pour la Réunion.

References

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  1. ^ Parlan, Valérie (2024-04-04). "Toutes les voix de La Réunion au micro de Radio Free Dom". Ouest France (in French). Retrieved 2024-06-13.
  2. ^ "Télé Free-DOM défie la loi depuis cinq ans". Le Monde.fr (in French). 1991-02-27. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
  3. ^ "Le CSA se refuse à légaliser Télé Free-DOM". Les Echos (in French). 1991-03-28. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
  4. ^ "Histoire(s) radiophonique(s)". www.radios.peuleux.fr. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
  5. ^ "Archives d'Outre-mer : il y a trente ans, les émeutes du Chaudron à la Réunion". Outre-mer la 1ère (in French). 2021-02-28. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
  6. ^ "Le Quotidien sort sa rétro de l'année 1992 : "Camille Sudre crée la surprise à la Région"". Free Dom (in French). 2024-01-08. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  7. ^ "Vous reprendrez bien un peu de Sudre?". L'Express (in French). 1993-06-16. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  8. ^ "La Réunion : l'épouse de Camille Sudre conduira la liste Free DOM aux élections régionales". Le Monde.fr (in French). 1993-05-29. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
  9. ^ Arrêté du 23 mai 1995 portant nomination au cabinet du secrétaire d'Etat chargé de la francophonie, retrieved 2024-06-14