Occident, like many similar groups, used the celtic cross as its emblem.

Occident (1964-1968) was a French far-right violent political group, often described as fascist-leaning. A number of members of Occident later were prominent members of mainstream right-wing parties, and even obtained ministerial positions.

Founded by Pierre Sidos in 1964, it mostly recruited university students. Occident was intensely anti-communist, but also denounced the administration of president Charles de Gaulle, making common cause with the pied-noirs (ethnic French from Algeria) who accused de Gaulle of having sold them out.

Following violent confrontations during the period of turmoil of May 1968, Occident was termed an illegal violent group and dissolved by the administration. Many of its former members joined newer far-right groups such as the Groupe Union Droit.

Occident and the groups that succeeded it have a Celtic cross for emblem.

Occident was a rather violent group. As an example, the following incident was recalled in a recent book (Charpier): On January 12, 1967, a group of Occident members attacked the Vietnam commitees on the campus of the university of Rouen; about 20 members of Occident were arrested, including Gérard Longuet, Alain Madelin and Patrick Devedjian (all future right-wing ministers). This case fed the natural tendency of paranoia of the group, with suspicions that someone had tipped off the police. Patrick Devedjian, summoned for an alleged meeting, was brutally interrogated by fellow members, including using a bathtub. Devedjian escaped in the nude.

Former members include:

• Alain Madelin (French political leader),
• Gérard Longuet (French politician),
• Patrick Devedjian , (French politician)
• Guillaume Raoux (French politician),
• Claude Goasguen (French politician),
• William Abitbol (French politician).

Its slogans included:

See also

• Politics of France

References

• Frédéric Charpier, Génération Occident, éd. du Seuil.

Related link

• site of a former Occident member
• 2005 article from Libération