POLITICS – What if the arrival of Michel Barnier at Matignon strengthened the unity of the left? Upset against what they consider to be “a denial of democracy”the main leaders of the New Popular Front speak with one voice. The appointment of a Prime Minister marked very right-wing leaves, in mirror, free rein to the left to oppose and protest. In Releasepolitical scientist Jean-Yves Dormagen even believes that The situation could benefit the left “since it finds itself in a position of monopoly of the opposition”the RN having rather declared itself in favour of neutrality, or even critical support, for the future government.
Is the left really responsible for the failure of the Cazeneuve option?
From then on, and knowing that it has a card to play, will the left-wing coalition last in the long term? First crash test this Saturday, September 7, with the demonstrations organized throughout France in opposition to the “Macron’s coup”Only the Socialist Party officially refused to join the call of youth organisations, associations and political parties (including La France insoumise, the PCF, the Ecologists, Génération⸱s…). “The debate must take place in the Assemblyjustifies to the HuffPost the PS deputy of Yvelines Dieynaba Diop. We are parliamentarians, we will go and discuss.”
Conversely, Jean-Luc Mélenchon calls for “the most powerful mobilization possible”. In a short video recorded on September 5 in reaction to the nomination of Michel Barnier, the three-time presidential candidate explains that it is a question of “respect for democracy”but also of “respect for our own dignity as citizens” : “We are the only sovereigns of this country”The argument is not surprising: “March against the social coup” in “Macron celebration”the Insoumis have in their DNA the mobilization of the street, and therefore of numbers, to confront the power in place.
“Political outlet”
The date of September 7 was chosen well before the announcements of the last few days. It aimed to increase the pressure on the head of state, who was bogged down in endless consultations, and to remind him that the French put the left in the lead in terms of seats on July 7. With a liberal and conservative prime minister, the day now takes on another dimension. But it also reveals certain internal flaws in the NFP.
« The mobilization of September 7, in all the prefecture cities, will be the first popular moment of action. The filing of motions of dismissal and censure will open the political outlet of these actions on the ground. They will be the natural extension of them.wrote Jean-Luc Mélenchon in a blog post on August 29. In other words, and to reflect the thoughts of the founder of La France Insoumise, censorship and dismissal will be the logical outcome of Saturday’s rallies. As for censorship, no problem, all the forces of the NFP are ready for it. On the other hand, for dismissal, it’s more complicated. The socialists are unanimously opposed to it, while among the Greens and the communists, the lines are changing a little. On the Green side, Sandrine Rousseau and Benjamin Lucas signed the resolution proposal, as did Émeline K/Bidi and Frédéric Maillot in the GDR group.
What about Lucie Castets?
Faced with a power that is turning to the right and relying on the clemency of the RN, the NFP could gradually be tempted by a vote of impeachment. In any case, this is Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s bet. In the middle of all this, Lucie Castets is trying to keep alive a flame that has lost intensity since the appointment of Michel Barnier, but which she intends to preserve as best she can. The senior civil servant plans to increase her trips to meet the French people in the coming weeks. “I will go mainly where people vote RNshe reveals in Mediapart“It will probably be quite unpleasant, but if we just stick to ourselves, we won’t risk broadening the left’s electoral base.”
Does she really have a choice? Without a mandate to defend or an electoral battle to lead, the NFP candidate for Matignon, who left her position as mayor of Paris, is forced to deal with a political situation that will now be written without her. Unless time speeds up. Since a new dissolution in 2025, or even an early presidential election in the event of a blockage in the country, cannot be ruled out. Hence the interest for Lucie Castets to solidify her political capital by betting on her main asset: the union of the left. She has a lot to do.
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