Infighting Emerges Within France's New Popular Front
In a surprising turn of events, La France Insoumise (LFI) has decided to present its own candidate, Mohamed Awad, against the outgoing Communist Party of France (PCF) deputy, Soumya Bourouaha, in the fourth constituency of Seine-Saint-Denis. This move comes as a response to the support shown by the PCF mayor of Bobigny, Abdel Sadi, towards LFI dissident Raquel Garrido. The decision highlights growing tensions within the New Popular Front, a coalition formed by various left-wing parties.
Under the initial agreement of the New Popular Front, the fourth constituency of Seine-Saint-Denis was allocated to the PCF, who currently hold this position through Bourouaha. However, the dynamics changed when Abdel Sadi decided to back Raquel Garrido in the fifth constituency, a move that LFI perceived as a violation of the coalition's single candidacy principle. This prompted Paul Vannier, an outgoing LFI MP and part of the LFI management, to state that their decision to nominate Awad could be retracted if PCF ceased their support for dissidents within the coalition.
Dissident Candidacies Impact Legislative Elections
The discord is not isolated to Seine-Saint-Denis. Hendrik Davi, an outgoing deputy for the fifth constituency of Bouches-du-Rhône in Marseille, announced he would maintain his candidacy despite not being reinvested by the New Popular Front. Davi contested this decision, pointing out the absence of a comprehensive explanation for the nomination of Allan Popelard, an associate professor of geography, to run in his constituency.
Davi, a scientist specializing in Mediterranean forests, had come close to victory in the 2017 legislative elections, narrowly losing by a thousand votes in the context of the Macronist wave. He eventually won the seat five years later. Despite the division, Davi expressed confidence that the total leftist support in his constituency, which oscillates between 40% and 50%, would still lead to a leftist list making it to the second round of the elections.
Broader Implications for the French Left
The development underscores an emerging pattern of internal conflicts within left-wing groups in France, risking the unity and effectiveness of the New Popular Front ahead of crucial early legislative elections set for June 30 and July 7. Historic figures of LFI, including Alexis Corbière, Raquel Garrido, and Danielle Simonnet, were also not reinvested, leading to further controversy and questions about the direction and internal cohesion of LFI.
Both the candidacies of Mohamed Awad and Hendrik Davi reflect the growing divisions and challenges within the New Popular Front, as well as the struggles left-wing parties face in maintaining a united front. These internal disagreements could potentially weaken their overall performance in the upcoming elections, thereby impacting the larger political landscape in France.
- Raquel Garrido has been an influential figure since her election in 2017, but her falling out with the rebellious leadership of LFI has cast a shadow over her candidacy. The controversy surrounding her non-reinvestment and subsequent support from the PCF mayor can be seen as a microcosm of broader schisms within left-wing politics in France.
- The decision not to reinvest several historic figures of LFI has puzzled and frustrated many within the party. The lack of clear communication regarding these decisions has fueled speculations and internal strife, complicating efforts to present a cohesive front in the upcoming elections.
- Despite these challenges, the potential for high leftist voter turnouts in constituencies like Bouches-du-Rhône offers a glimmer of hope. If managed strategically, these votes could still translate into significant parliamentary representation, even amid the prevailing divisions.
