| Ecological Revolution for the Living | |
| Ideology: | Veganism Global federalism Animal rights Deep ecology Social democracy |
| Position: | Left-wing |
| Colours: | Teal Old gold |
| Country: | France |
| Abbreviation: | REV |
| Native Name: | Révolution écologique pour le vivant |
| Leader1 Title: | Founder and President |
| Leader1 Name: | Aymeric Caron |
| Leader2 Title: | Vice-President |
| Leader2 Name: | Lamya Essemlali |
| Membership: | 4,000 (claimed) |
| Membership Year: | 2018 |
| National: | New Popular Front (2024–present) New Ecological and Social People's Union (2022–2024) |
| Seats1 Title: | National Assembly |
| Seats2 Title: | Senate |
| Seats3 Title: | European Parliament |
| Seats4 Title: | Presidency of Regional Councils |
| Seats5 Title: | Presidency of Departmental Councils |
The Ecological Revolution for the Living (REV;) is a minor political party in France, founded in 2018 by Aymeric Caron, who was elected in 2022 as its sole Member of Parliament.
The party was formed on 8 February 2018 following dissatisfaction with Europe Ecology – The Greens. Aymeric Caron expressed that The Greens lost its legitimacy to take care of the ecological crisis by embracing capitalistic values of the market instead of focusing on what is actually important.
Formerly name Ecological Union for the Living, the party adopts its actual name in 2020.
In the 2022 French legislative election, Aymeric Caron of the Ecological Revolution for the Living was elected to the National Assembly in the 18th constituency of Paris with the support of the New Ecological and Social People's Union alliance.[1] [2] Upon taking office, Caron, who became the party's sole Member of Parliament, chose to sit with the La France Insoumise group rather than as an independent.
A self-described anti-speciesist and deep ecologist political party, REV emphasizes the rejection of the commodity status of animals.
REV is an explicitly vegan political party claiming to refuse "the exploitation and the slaughter of non-human animals to satisfy morbid and unnecessary food cravings."
REV sets out four fundamental rights for non-human animals:
To achieve these rights, REV proposes the gradual closure of all meat farms, a ban on hunting and fishing, the closure of non-rehabilitative zoos and aquariums, prohibition of fur production and sale, and closure of pet stores in favor of non-kill animal shelters.
On economic issues, REV takes a social democratic and anti-consumerist stance. It advocates for a 28-hour workweek, a strengthening of the national healthcare system, public banking, a tax on financial transactions, and a maximum income of €480,000 a year.
As an environmentalist political party, REV advocates for the transition to 100% renewable energy, followed by the gradual closure of all nuclear power plants. Additionally it advocates for free public transportation to incentivize low emission transit, a national ban on single-use plastics and the establishment of water as a common good and universal fundamental right, guaranteeing its free access for all.
On social issues, REV takes a pro-immigrant, secular and socially progressive stance. It calls for an end to police brutality, the equal status of men and women, LGBT acceptance, legalization of euthanasia, the creation of a legal route to the Schengen area, zero migrant deaths at European borders, and universal asylum for climate refugees.
REV also calls for a reformed French democracy, calling for the abolition of the Senate and the office of the President, the replacement of ballotage with a proportional representation system, and limitations on the power of lobbies in the political system.
On foreign policy, REV calls for the creation of a global federal government either through the manifestation of a new internationalist organization, or through the reformation of the United Nations. Additionally, REV calls for the gradual abandonment of borders, international nuclear disarmament, the creation of an international regulatory body to ensure trade justice, and the cancelation of "illegitimate debts" owed to developed nations from the developing world.[3]
In January of 2022, the REV joinded the Parliament of the People's Union to support Jean-Luc Mélenchon's candidature. It will participate in writing the program, mainly concerning animals' rights. Despite the program being less ambitious than what the REV advocates for outside of this alliance, it is still considered the most viable plan for ecology as a whole.
During the Presidential Election, the REV negotiated an agreement with LFI in regard to the candidates and to avoid to concurr against each other. This agreement will be upholded in the NUPES (New Social and Ecological People's Union) which is an electoral contract between the main four leftist parties.The REV will present 10 candidates in counties historically right-leaning. This situation will end with only one candidate elected : Aymeric Caron, the party's founder.
In February of 2024, the REV announced its alliance with La France Insoumise in order to not dilute votes any more than it actually was. Three members of the REV were candidates, Carine Sandon, Laura Vallée-Hans and Gregory Perche, respectively 11th, 55th and 66th on the list. [4]
The People's Union came out of the election with 9 elected candidates, thus no member of the REV was elected to the European Parliament.
After Emmanuel Macron's decision to have early legislatives elections, the REV naturally sided with the New Popular Front, a new alliance negotiated on what remained of the NUPES. During the discussion, it was decided the REV would present five candidates. Out of the five, Aymeric Caron was re-elected triomphaly without a second turn. Among the four others, only Victor Prandt went on a second turn but ended losing to a far-right candidate.