We will soon commemorate 40th anniversary of Prague Spring’s suppression. Do you still remember exactly what you were doing when you heard about Soviet invasion to our country for the very first time?
Yes, I was in Prague on my way to Cuba the day before invasion.
Had this event any significant impact on you personally and French leftist activists?
Yes ,it had, it was the confirmation that nothing could change pacifically beyond the iron curtain as far as the Russians could prevent it, and it confirmed as well that French CP didn’t know any more where it lived.
What can actually Europe learn from what Czechoslovakia experienced in 1968?
To my opinion it was the very last time, one could believe Marxism was the way to build a better society.
Can you see any parallels between May ‘68 in France and Prague Spring in Czechoslovakia?
At that time we could hope every thing was possible… on both sides of the iron curtain.
Are street demonstrations and riots still an effective way to bring expected changes?
If you mean, nowadays in European countries, I would say No, but I would not care to predict how a revolt can make it’s own way in the world in the future.
How would you describe ´68 for us, young generation of 70th and 80th?
An attempt to build a world of freedom and well-being, smothered by the mimicry of the soviet revolution.
What is the legacy of this year in a few words?
There can’t be legacy before the death, and so many people still mean to kill it, including Sarkozy, our president, that we cant sign the death. We are living in a post 68 society, as well as in a post 89 one. We have to assume both.
