Raphaël Arnault

Raphaël Arnault
Arnault in 2024
Member of the French National Assembly
for Vaucluse's 1st constituency
Assumed office
18 July 2024
Preceded byCatherine Jaouen
Personal details
BornRaphaël Archenault
(1995-01-08) 8 January 1995
Lyon, France
PartyLa France Insoumise
Other political
affiliations
New Anticapitalist Party (until 2024)

Raphaël Arnault (French pronunciation: [ʁafaɛl aʁno]; born Raphaël Archenault, French pronunciation: [aʁʃəno]; 8 January 1995) is a French anti-fascist activist and politician serving as a member of the National Assembly for Vaucluse's 1st constituency since 2024.[1][2] A member of La France Insoumise (LFI), he co-founded the Jeune Garde Antifasciste in 2018 and has served as its spokesperson.[3][4]

Early life and activism

Arnault was born in Lyon and became politically active during the 2016 protests against the El Khomri law.[5] He was a member of the New Anticapitalist Party and ran under its label in Rhône's 2nd constituency in 2022.[6] In 2018 he co-founded the anti-fascist collective Jeune Garde Antifasciste in Lyon and became one of its spokespersons.[7][8]

Political career

In the 2024 legislative election Arnault was elected for Vaucluse’s 1st constituency, defeating incumbent Catherine Jaouen (RN).[9] The 17th legislature opened on 18 July 2024, the date on which new deputies formally took their seats.[10] At the Assembly he sits with the LFI–NFP group and has served on the Committee on Cultural Affairs and Education.[11]

Controversies

“Fiche S” reporting

During the 2024 campaign multiple outlets described Arnault as listed under a “fiche S”.[12] According to Europe 1, he was subject to three such listings; Arnault criticised proposals to render “fiché S” individuals ineligible for office.[13][14]

In February 2022 Arnault was convicted in first instance of “violences en réunion”; he appealed the judgment and he withdrew it in April 2025.[15] In May 2024 he was questioned by police (without prosecution) regarding an October 2023 communiqué that initially referred to Hamas as a “resistance movement” and was later withdrawn the same day.[16]

References

  1. ^ "M. Raphaël Arnault – Vaucluse (1re circonscription)". Assemblée nationale (in French). Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  2. ^ Guéron-Gabrielle, Juliette (9 July 2024). "Raphaël Arnault, candidat « fiché S », l'emporte face au Rassemblement national à Avignon". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  3. ^ "La Jeune Garde, un collectif antifa proche de LFI que le ministre Bruno Retailleau veut dissoudre". Le Monde (in French). 15 May 2025. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  4. ^ "Législatives : le porte-parole de la Jeune Garde candidat à Lyon ?". Lyon Capitale (in French). 13 May 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  5. ^ "Tout ce que l'on sait sur Raphaël Arnault, ce Lyonnais candidat du Front Populaire fiché S". Le Progrès (in French). 17 June 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  6. ^ "2e circonscription du Rhône : qui est Raphaël Arnault, candidat de l'extrême gauche ?". Le Progrès (in French). 23 May 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  7. ^ "La Jeune Garde, un collectif antifa proche de LFI que le ministre Bruno Retailleau veut dissoudre". Le Monde (in French). 15 May 2025. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  8. ^ "Législatives : le porte-parole de la Jeune Garde candidat à Lyon ?". Lyon Capitale (in French). 13 May 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  9. ^ Guéron-Gabrielle, Juliette (9 July 2024). "Raphaël Arnault, candidat « fiché S », l'emporte face au Rassemblement national à Avignon". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  10. ^ "Calendrier d'ouverture de la 17e législature". Assemblée nationale (in French). 18 July 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  11. ^ "M. Raphaël Arnault – Vaucluse (1re circonscription)". Assemblée nationale (in French). Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  12. ^ "Raphaël Arnault, candidat « fiché S », l'emporte face au Rassemblement national à Avignon". Le Monde (in French). 9 July 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  13. ^ "Législatives : le candidat fiché S, Raphaël Arnault, et la Jeune Garde visés par plusieurs plaintes pour violences et menaces de mort". Europe 1 (in French). 21 June 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  14. ^ "Inéligibilité des fichés S : le député de Vaucluse dénonce « une élimination des opposants politiques »". Echo du Mardi (in French). 25 July 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  15. ^ "INFO EUROPE 1 – Législatives 2024 : Raphaël Arnault a bien (déjà) été condamné pour violences en réunion". Europe 1 (in French). 4 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  16. ^ Darnault, Maïté (19 June 2024). "Antifa lyonnais, ex-NPA, assistant d'éducation : qui est Raphaël Arnault, le candidat LFI qui divise dans le Vaucluse". Libération (in French). Retrieved 11 November 2025.