Victor Chabert, edited by Nathanaël Bentura
modified to
08:04, May 06, 2022
For the Socialist Party, we will have to play it safe, because the discontent is there, even after the agreement adopted overnight from Thursday to Friday, around one in the morning. An alliance with the rebellious validated by 62% of the Socialists meeting in the National Council has enabled a historic change of direction for the left-wing party, after more than four hours of discussions. “We missed each other a lot. Now, I hope, we will meet again. Thank you”, launched Olivier Faure, the first secretary of the PS. However, there are many dissidents from the party who intend to stand for legislative elections outside the union.
“It must be a party of government and not a party that follows radicalism”
In the evening, the debates were sometimes stormy, certain speakers insisting on expressing their deep disagreement with the line of Jean-Luc Mélenchon on Europe, the financing of the program or even on the few constituencies obtained by the PS in the deal. But the exchanges are cordial and the negotiators are outstanding. Many are convinced of this in his position. The PS emerges strengthened from the compromise found with LFI.
At the exit, the executives assure that it is a historic moment. The Socialists clarify their position, become part of the left again. But some opponents, like François Kalfon, do not hide their anger. “As they say in a popular saying, it is at the end of the fair that we count the dung. The end of the fair is next June 19, we will see how many deputies we will win. Me, I I have great doubts.”
The first disagreements arise
The alliance also has a bitter taste for Patrick Mennucci. The former Marseille deputy is a fierce opponent of this marriage with rebellious France: “We love the Socialist Party, we are attached to it and we do not want to add to it”, he detailed before adding: ” I think the voters, unfortunately, will quickly realize what is happening. But tonight I think we fought a battle. We lost it and we have no intention of losing it. “Abandon the Socialist Party. We are staying there to change it.”
From now on, the time for dissidence seems to have come for him: “After this period, there will be a congress. This is where we will try to regain control because the Socialist Party. It must be a government party and not a party that follows radicalism”, regretted Patrick Mennucci.
At the same time, in Montpellier. The PS mayor of the city, Michaël Delafosse, accompanied by the president of the Occitanie region, Carole Delga, standing up against the agreement, launched the campaign of their own out-of-union candidate, Olivier Faure has already warned on leaving the National Council: “You know our statutes. Dissident candidates exclude themselves from the Socialist Party.” The investiture convention of the New Alliance is scheduled for this Saturday in Aubervilliers.