Spreading up “tips that work”

Since 2022, the 25-year-old Raphaël Ruegger, an elected representative from Neuvy-sur-Barangeon in the Cher department, has been travelling the length and breadth of France to meet local elected representatives on behalf of the Fédération Française des Trucs qui Marchent (FFTM). This entirely non-partisan organisation has set itself the task of identifying and promoting initiatives led by local councils that have proven successful and can be replicated. Having travelled over 100,000 kilometres and visited 400 local authorities, the FFTM has just published a book offering elected representatives and candidates of all political persuasions a ‘toolbox’ to inspire their programmes and scale up the replication of these initiatives, all of which have the potential to transform the country. Raphaël Ruegger talks about the FFTM’s origins, its philosophy and its plan to roll out mayors’ best practices based on a selection of “trucs qui marchent” (tips that work) in the areas of housing, transport, education, health and culture.