The Little Republic of Saillans. An experience of participatory democracy. Éditions du Rouergue. Maud Dugrand.
The book (in french) that will feed the debates on the municipal elections of March 2020.
In March 2014, while the National Front made a historic breakthrough in the first round of the municipal elections, Saillans, a small town in the Drôme valley, overturned the table. Beginning citizens in politics decide without program or candidate to floor on the priorities of the municipality. The success is immediate and unexpected. For the first time, residents speak out, collectively reflect on another way of bringing local politics to life. The citizen list “Otherwise for Saillans … all together” is being created. On March 23, 2014, she won the first round elections with 56.8% of the vote.
For five years, Saillans, a village in Drôme with 1,300 inhabitants, has been experimenting with a model of citizen democracy where decisions are taken by the inhabitants. New ways to exercise power but also to live together. Journalist Maud Dugrand, originally from the area, was the best placed to tell us this story.
At a time when new elections are looming, she takes stock of an unequaled experience, which responds in her own way to the repeated aspirations for a democratic renaissance.
In online bookstore, lalibrairie.com, February 5, 2020.