After the government's non-censorship, François Hollande considers that the socialists “constitute the central pole” of the National Assembly

Former President François Hollande fully accepts the choice of the Socialist Party (PS) not to have censored the government – ​​unlike the rest of the left – and even sees it as a strengthening of the role of its elected representatives within the National Assembly. .

In an interview with La Tribune Sunday published on Saturday January 18, the former head of state, now deputy for Corrèze, judges that the socialists have “made a major decision” and have “fully assumed their role, that of a responsible and useful opposition party”.

The government of François Bayrou escaped, on Thursday, its first motion of censure, tabled by La France insoumise (LFI), in part thanks to the PS deputies who, by a very large majority, chose not to associate themselves with it. The party's first secretary, Olivier Faure, instead decided to initiate a negotiation with the prime minister during which the prime minister agreed to reopen a discussion on the 2023 pension reform and to return to measures such as the delisting of medicines or the elimination of 4,000 teaching positions.

“The socialists now constitute the central pole within the National Assembly since nothing can be done without them or against them”says François Hollande. They “have the key until 2027”adds the former socialist president. For him, they assumed “the compromise for the benefit of the French”et “have challenged the posture of LFI whose only perspective is to block institutional life and provoke a presidential election”.

Each component within the NFP has “regained its freedom”

The motion of censure debated on Thursday followed François Bayrou's general policy declaration on Tuesday before the National Assembly. Others could follow by the end of February and beginning of March during budget discussions.

“The country must have a budget as soon as possible, but this cannot be a repeat of the previous one”considers François Hollande ready not to censor the government if “efforts” are “consented in the sense of equity and ecology” and provided that the Prime Minister respects “what he promised” and don't give in “at the pressure of the most right-wing part of its majority”.

Asked about the future of the New Popular Front (NFP), he noted that “since LFI announced that its leader [Jean-Luc Mélenchon] would be a candidate for the presidential election no matter what”each component of the left alliance “has necessarily regained his freedom”.