Éléonore Laloux is the first candidate with Down syndrome in France
Her name is Éléonore Laloux, she is 34 years old and she is the first candidate with Down syndrome in the history of the French republic. The girl, who lives in Arras, where she could be elected to the municipal elections on March 15, is a huge fan of the Rolling Stones and is perfectly capable of combining a passion for guitar and acting with political commitment. In addition, Éléonore has always been a great activist for the rights of people with Trisomy 21 like her.
"Your commitment enriches us," the outgoing mayor says of her
The outgoing mayor of the city, the centrist Frédéric Leturque, wanted it in the "Arras pour Vous" list, who was able to admire its work and, therefore, declared: "He makes concrete, realistic and interesting propositions. commitment enriches each other and if elected she will be an "extraordinary administrator".
Inclusion is the key word
What makes Éléonore special is not her condition, but the strong civic sense that we find at the basis of her electoral program. "I would like more cleanliness, more spaces for bikes, but also areas for dogs. In short, more life and more respect", but also, as stated in several interviews, to reduce the height of the sidewalks and equip the traffic lights with messages in Braille. Inclusion is the key word because, as she herself explained, “Inclusion is important to me. I would like young people like me to be able to live normally. First of all we are human beings ".
Skillfully juggled between work and volunteering
After completing his studies regularly, politics was not his first choice. Éléonore, in fact, started working as an administrative agent in a hospital. The candidate has always combined her professional activity with that of volunteering as, for example, alongside the Down Up and "les Amis d'Eleonore" associations. the latter founded by her parents, in the forefront to defeat prejudices against disabled people and ensure that Éléonore can live like everyone else. In 2014, moreover, she published a book on the subject entitled “Triso et alors!”.
Go, Éléonore!
Also cheering for her was Sophie Cluzel, deputy minister in charge of disabilities, who worked to ensure that the parties made room for people with disabilities in view of the municipal elections on March 15-22.
Never as in this historical moment would we want to be citizens of Arras to mark an x on the name of Éléonore, but we are sure that, in any case, there will be many to do so.
