The Castets hypothesis had the merit of – partially – putting the dust of discord on the left under the carpet, with all the forces of the NFP agreeing on his candidacy. It just remained to be determined with what political strength this “link” of the left, affiliated with no party, would sit in the event of victory, the constituency returning to LFI under the agreement of the New Popular Front in June.
For the Insoumis, there is no question of her sitting anywhere other than in their group, where they proposed that she could be related to LFI, like Aymeric Caron. But Lucie Castets did not wish to sit with them, and finally made it known that she was giving up running, “the conditions” for her candidacy “not having been met”.
Enough to push Marine Tondelier to denounce the “nagging methods” of everyone, the local socialists having made it known that they intended to nominate a candidate, Amandine Germain for this legislative election, despite the agreement on the distribution of constituencies in the NFP. “We think she is the best candidate,” supports the national secretary of the PS and president of the Haute-Garonne Departmental Council, Sébastien Vincini.
“We have the right to question ourselves, to discuss them, to analyze the results,” he adds, in reference to the good result of Raphaël Glucksmann’s list in this European constituency (21.3% against 13.4% for the Insoumis).
With the Lucie Castets option now ruled out, the Insoumis are “working on several scenarios” to present a candidate to replace Hugo Prevost, their former deputy who resigned after accusations of sexual violence, indicates deputy Paul Vannier. “The discussion is very advanced,” adds the rebellious executive.
In Hauts-de-Seine, a partial election should also be held after the appointment, not yet effective, of Stéphane Séjourné to the post of European commissioner. The constituency, where Boulogne-Billancourt is located, returns to the Ecologists, who had presented in 2022 and 2024 a municipal councilor of the city, Pauline Rapilly Ferniot.
“Funny game”
But a local socialist, Judith Shan, indicated Monday evening that she had been nominated by the PS section of Boulogne “to be leader in the partial legislative election”, which the left has very little chance of winning.
Enough to annoy Marine Tondelier, who was alarmed by the “funny game” of “certain partners”. “We will talk about it during our weekly meeting of party leaders, because there is no question that, by this kind of method, we will shatter the NFP,” she added.
In both cases, the leadership of the Socialist Party has not publicly said whether or not it approves these candidacy documents. “I hope that François Hollande’s friends have not regained control of the party and that Olivier Faure will speak to recall the PS’s commitments within the framework of the New Popular Front,” warns Paul Vannier. But “at this stage, no breach of agreement has been validated by the leadership of the PS”, procrastinates the socialist deputy Laurent Baumel, close to Olivier Faure.
For the last partial legislative planned in the Ardennes, after the resignation of the RN deputy Flavien Termet, everything seems to be going well on the left, the socialist candidate Damien Lerouge having congratulated himself on having the support of all the components of the NFP even if victory seems very unlikely.
But the Isère and Altosequan situations are cause for concern on the left for the future of the New Popular Front, especially since they recall the partial legislative in Ariège of April 2023, which had sowed discord within the Nupes and even the Socialist Party.
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