A national electrical office
It was a meeting as the socialists like them: uncertain, ideological and also very political. “The atmosphere was tense, because the current issues are pushing for tension,” confirms Patrick Kanner, head of the socialist group in the Senate, who nevertheless welcomes the democratic framework in which the debates took place. The national office had been convened Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. by Olivier Faure, “because it had been requested by the opposition, in such a strong way that he could not avoid it,” sighs a party official. Of course, most of the 72 participants were remote. But the friction capsized a few webcams.
Before that, the day had been marked by new consultations. Alongside the leader of the deputies Boris Vallaud, Olivier Faure was invited to the Elysée. The first secretary of the party informed Emmanuel Macron that the PS line had not changed and that the socialist elected officials would “censor any continuity of Macronism”. Is a Cazeneuve government an extension of the latter?
Cazeneuve never dies
Philosophical question, which was posed Tuesday evening to the members of the national office. The two minority currents, led by the opponents Hélène Geoffroy and Nicolas Mayer Rossignol, submitted the following amendment to their comrades: “The PS will not censure a priori a cohabitation government led by Bernard Cazeneuve, Prime Minister, starting from the NFP program (pensions, salaries, public services, etc.) and within the framework of the Republican Front.” Following a nominal vote, facing the camera, each member was called to vote. Amendment rejected, by 38 votes to 33. Victory for the Faure line.
“The subject is less “who” (for Matignon) than “what” (for what purpose). At the basis of any compromise (made necessary by the absence of an absolute majority), there are the demands made by the Popular Front”, wrote the first secretary on X this Wednesday morning. On the TF1 set, Olivier Faure seems to say more: according to him, Bernard Cazeneuve at Matignon would be “a form of anomaly”. Is this the end of the Cazeneuve hypothesis for the socialists? “Not at all!” specifies a member of the opposition, who explains that the adoption of the resolution does not mean that a Cazeneuve government would necessarily be censored by the deputies. In other words, the socialists will judge on the facts.
“Cazeneuve is a man of the left, he will lead a left-wing policy made up of measures of fiscal justice and social justice, hopes a PS elected official. He is a statesman, a great republican. If Bernard Cazeneuve is appointed, the question is not one of participation in government, but of simple “non-censorship””. Clearly, if a policy deemed sufficiently left-wing were led, the socialists might not bring down Bernard Cazeneuve. But what is a left-wing policy?
The reaffirmation of red lines
Another philosophical question. In the resolution adopted on Tuesday, the party sets “ten points of demand and urgency for the future Prime Minister”. The socialists are thus demanding the repeal of the pension reform and the immigration law, the establishment of a green ISF or even €1 meals for students. “A text that recalls the party’s doxa”, for Patrick Kanner. Even the repeal of the pension reform? “We can imagine a freeze on its terms, or a return to work in order to extract advantages for the French”, adds another socialist senator.
What about Lucie Castets, the candidate proposed by the New Popular Front (NFP) and rejected on August 26 by Emmanuel Macron? “She remains our candidate,” says Patrick Kanner. In the absence of an official nomination to Matignon, the socialists believe that she is still in the running. Without having too many illusions. “There is sadism in Emmanuel Macron, who takes a malicious pleasure in trying to demonstrate that French political life depends only on him. Today we are at an impasse because of the stubbornness of an isolated man who no longer feels loved,” says the leader of the socialist group in the Senate. The socialists are ready for cohabitation.
