Paris (AFP)
The hypothesis of an upcoming 9th political group in the Assembly, composed of "walkers", ex- "walkers" and also elected officials attached to the environment, resurfaced Friday, against a background of risk for LREM of lose the absolute majority.
According to Les Échos, a few dozen deputies are about to form this 9th group - a record - called "Ecology democracy solidarity", around Matthieu Orphelin (ex-LREM close to Nicolas Hulot), Aurélien Taché (LREM) and possibly again Cédric Villani (still a member of the LREM group).
MP Martine Wonner, the only LREM elected to have voted against the government's deconfinement strategy, was excluded from the majority group on Wednesday, accelerating speculation around this new formation, in the midst of a health crisis. But this member of the left wing told AFP not to be at this stage.
After his exclusion, the LREM and related deputies, chaired by Gilles Le Gendre, now have 296 members, compared to 314 at the start of the legislature. The absolute majority is at 289 seats. Departures were regular, against the background of conflicts on the line or disagreement for the municipal authorities.
The initiative in gestation "will settle the political and individual bad management of the group" LREM, tackles a macronist deputy.
The new group could have twenty members, non-registered, some LREM, Liberties and territories or even PS, according to Claire Pitollat, a chosen LREM elected representative, who however judges that "in full deconfinement, it does not (him) seem timely "to launch it.
According to her, this initiative is about "bringing to life the diversity of the majority", while others are in a less cooperative line with the executive.
A majority cadre already embraces a "group of odds and ends to try to exist, a group of orphans". He sees in it "finally a useful clarification of deputies who were not used to going beyond" right-left promoted by Emmanuel Macron.
And according to this source, "the absolute majority is a bit of a false subject because with the constant support of the Modem (and) the solid support of Agir, the majority as a whole is largely assured". "It is not a heavy blow for Emmanuel Macron", assures this close to the Elysée, estimating that the potential dissidents "do not seem in the frontal opposition".
© 2020 AFP