On March 13, Mathias Vicherat announced his resignation from his functions as director of the Institute of Political Studies (IEP) in Paris and administrator of the National Foundation for Political Sciences (FNSP). A decision madein order to preserve the institution», he explained in a press release, following the announcement of his dismissal, as well as that of his ex-partner Anissa Bonnefont, before the criminal court for a case of domestic violence.
But almost two months after this resignation, no successor has yet been designated, and Jean-Bassères still holds the position of provisional administrator since March 26. Although a graduate of the establishment, this former general director of Pôle emploi has however already announced that he will not be a candidate for the management of Sciences Po.
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In an article published on May 3, Le Figaro reveals, however, that a “list of names» would have been established following a first meeting between the board of directors and the council of the Institute of Political Studies, on April 18.
If the opening of a call for applications is announced between May 2 and June 30 in anticipation of an appointment from mid-September, the few names that appear in this list of prospective candidates are already causing a lot of controversy. ‘ink.
A “short list” of candidates which is not unanimous
Among these names, one in particular attracts attention, that of Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, former Minister of National Education under François Hollande. A graduate of Sciences Po Paris, she reveals Le Figaro«prefers not to comment on this possible candidacy“. The possibility of a candidacy from the former Minister of Women’s Rights nonetheless remains entirely plausible, as she has also created a training program at Sciences Po Paris dedicated to public policies in the area of equality. women-men, which she co-directs with economist Hélène Périvier since 2018.
His silence contrasts with the position of other potential candidates, like Rima Abdul Malak, former Minister of Culture, who, contacted by the media, “formally denies running for this position“. As for Aurélien Rousseau, whose name is also circulating, the former Minister of Health explains “wait to know the profile sought“.
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Finally, opposite Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, this list of names also includes that of Enrico Letta, former president of the Italian Council of Ministers and secretary of the Democratic Party until 2023, who headed the School of Business for six years of the IEP and today chairs the Jacques Delors Institute.
The Palestinian question, a recruitment criterion?
The possibility of a direction provided by Najat Vallaud-Belkacem does not seem to be unanimous among the teaching staff of the institute according to Le Figaro, which estimates that “the possibility of seeing this left-wing media figure appointed at a time when the institution is facing pro-Palestinian demonstrations punctuated by anti-Semitic incidents raises internal questions“.
On this subject, the former Minister of Education revealed her position by sharing on her account X a letter sent by Fariba Adelkhakh to students on hunger strike, in support of the Palestinian cause. “Thank you for these words. They are breaking the screen of madness that seems to have covered our world,” writes the former minister, sharing the letter from the Franco-Iranian researcher at Sciences Po, held in Iran since 2019, and convicted in 2020 for endangering national security before being able to return to France in October 2023.
In this appeal to students launched by the Iranian researcher, she affirms loud and clear: “Vyour fight is mine. Your fight is ours, researchers,” before calling them to “interrupt (their) hunger strike to replace it with other forms of struggle.»
And to specify, “your admirable commitment must not be to the detriment of your health, your studies, those who love you“. Finally, she continues, “peace, justice, political recognition of the rights of the Palestinian people need your strength, not your sacrifice“. And to call on the provisional administrator of Sciences Po, as well as the French government, to renounce “any police action that does not justify endangering people or property.”
