Victor Chabert and Alexis De Lafontaine, edited by Juline Garnier
The executives who arrive in front of the PS headquarters in Ivry-sur-Seine look serious for the most part. They come drop by drop to examine the agreement in principle reached with rebellious France for a union in the legislative elections. Little communication for the moment, except the elected Hélène Geoffroy. In disagreement with the proposed union, the opponent of Olivier Faure at the last congress specifies that “this national council will be a fight”. This is a crucial vote for the future of the Socialist Party, and the outcome of the vote is uncertain.
Throughout the day, various internal oppositions were heard. Carole Delga, the very powerful president of the Occitania region, issued a murderous press release announcing that she would vote against this agreement. She says it “does not match her values”, that it is a “facade union”. Anne Hidalgo openly criticized this union project, explaining that it “did not respect the people or the elected representatives established in the territories”, but that she would not oppose it. The Paris Federation of the PS should also abstain.
“Not everything is negotiable”
“This agreement is not desirable as it stands. We must respect both the voters and the territories. moreover the European principles, even though thousands of jobs at home depend on European exchanges”, deplores Frédéric Cuvillier, PS mayor of Boulogne-sur-Mer.
“It still deserves not only the discussions, but above all that we go back to the fundamentals. Because everything is not negotiable, in any case not the values and in any case not the commitment”, he added. . He is part of the national council which will have to decide. For him, no doubt, it will be no.
A very tight result
Other press releases were more favorable, such as that of Martine Aubry or the young guard of socialist mayors like Johanna Rolland or Nathalie Appéré. For them, this agreement is necessary for the survival of the Socialist Party. Within the national leadership of the PS, we expect a very tight result, in particular because of the blocking operated by the federations of the south, those which weigh the most on the Socialist Party.
And paradoxically, it is in these territories that are most penalized by the union project. In some departments, which are socialist strongholds, the anger is great. Elected officials are upwind in the Hérault or the Tarn, the department of Jean Jaurès. They have no reserved constituencies. The PS is completely wiped off the map for the benefit of environmentalists and rebels. What is certain at this stage is that even if this agreement is voted on, there will be dissent.