The Insoumis gather all weekend in "representative assembly" in Paris. First major post-European meeting after the debacle. As a reminder, the list carried by Manon Aubry obtained 6% of the vote in May, while Jean-Luc Mélenchon still culminated at 19% in the first round of the presidential election. Jean-Luc Mélenchon has still not expressed himself on the reasons for his defeat when he has to face a lot of criticisms internally, as for his political line, his lack of internal democracy, also departures. He will speak on Sunday. In the meantime, what is to be expected from this rendezvous for the Rogue?
Populism against rally on the left
The least we can say is that it is highly anticipated by activists, party officials and the media too! Because for a month, it's total silence. Jean-luc Mélenchon wrote on his blog: he was waiting for "the dust to fall" to express himself. It must have been after June 6th and the installation of the delegation of the new deputies against Brussels. But since, nothing! The deputy from Marseille simply used his time of response to the assembly to the speech of general policy of Edouard Philippe. And the impression that stands out right now is that all decisions are frozen.
Many are waiting for his Sunday speech to see more clearly in terms of political line. To put it simply, two lines oppose insubordinate France. The one more populist, the other, especially worn by Clementine Autain, who thinks that the "Fi" must be the central force on the left. In a platform she published the day after the European, she criticized the populist line of the movement for a year, the attempt to recover including the anger of the yellow vests and what she also calls the strategy of "permanent clash".
To rebound after the May defeat, this weekend's meeting should be an opportunity to define a clear line for the municipal. The idea is to promote collective citizens everywhere and refocus on the neighborhoods, to win back a lost electorate.
Who to replace Manuel Bompard?
The other line of work is the internal reorganization. Many members of LFI have slammed the door by denouncing the total opacity of the movement, as Charlotte Girard, widow of the spiritual son of Jean-Luc Mélenchon François Delapierre. A departure that weighs heavy, a whole symbol. The discontented denounce a system where it is impossible to express disagreement.
Manuel Bompard, chief operating officer of the party, should be replaced. He has been elected MEP and will be in Brussels. But above all, "it is hated by the militants", dixit a party executive interviewed by Europe 1, for having done "all the low works". Clearly: all decisions a little opaque exclusion of some members like Thomas Guénolé or François Cocq.
Who will replace him ? The name that comes back most is that of Adrien Quattenens, rising star of the Insoumis. The latter is very close and very in tune with Jean-Luc Mélenchon, so much so that it gave him a nickname: Saint Just, put forward during the European campaign. This weekend, he should specify his intentions. Meanwhile, Saturday afternoon, Jean-Luc Mélenchon will be in Belfort with employees of General Electrics threatened with social plan. 800 jobs could be deleted on the site.