Paris (AFP)

EELV spokesman Julien Bayou's motion, backed by national secretary David Cormand, was widely in the lead of the activists' vote on Saturday, a definite advantage to head the party at the congress on November 30 .

Leaders and environmental activists are focused on the March municipal elections, where they hope to win several large and medium-sized cities after their breakthrough in the June European elections. But the coming congress obliges one and the other to internal debates.

According to almost definitive results published on the party's website, the text led by Mr. Bayou and the other spokesperson, Sandra Regol, received 41.3% of the vote, relegating to 26.5% the motion of the former MEP Eva Sas, yet supported by several close to the strong man of EELV Yannick Jadot - who has not positioned himself publicly.

In third place, comes with 23%, the motion of the Deputy National Secretary Alain Coulombel, who advocates an immediate and nurtured dialogue with other left parties. It was signed by the collapse theorist Yves Cochet and former MEP Alain Lipietz.

A fourth motion, led by Executive Board Member Philippe Stanisière, comes last with 8.6% of the vote.

The votes resulted in the election of 400 delegates who, in the manner of the United States Electoral Elector system, will in turn elect an executive bureau on November 30 at the EELV Congress in Saint-Denis.

Julien Bayou was satisfied with the AFP of a process "appeased". "This shows that we are able to organize a congress without it harming the dynamics of municipal," said Julien Bayou. "The four texts have nuances, but everyone agrees on the affirmation of ecology," he added.

Bayou said he wanted to discuss "a rally," in short, a summary, a merger for a broad motion at the convention.

- "Nothing is played" -

So, on Saturday night, for two weeks, the intense discussions - which ecologists are familiar with - are opening up to designate the new party boss. And if Julien Bayou appears in a position of strength, the theoretical possibility of an alliance between the two following lists gives them a capacity for pressure.

"The very balanced results" imply that the rally can only be done "under certain conditions", assures Eva Sas to AFP, without further details.

Alain Coulombel adds: "Nothing is played, many are wary of the idea of ​​a Bayou national secretary". According to him, "the other three sensibilities are very critical of the outgoing leadership on governance", considered not democratic enough and transparent.

The choice of the national secretary is historically not a quiet river at EELV and this congress should not escape the rule.

On the other hand, the strategic line seems to have been decided: the first two texts wish, with nuances, to affirm the primacy of ecology for the next elections.

It is a victory for Yannick Jadot, top of the European list, even if David Cormand also claims to have campaigned for this option. EELV activists have already put it into practice in most major cities by voting for a standalone list compared to other leftist forces.

A congress executive explains: "What motivates the ecologists is the municipal, not to be in a congress competition".

© 2019 AFP