Paris (AFP)

A ninth political group with "walkers" and ex- "walkers", composed of 17 deputies, is "officially deposited" on Tuesday in the Assembly, founding members announced to AFP, the LREM group losing at the same time just the absolute majority, at least temporarily.

Called "Ecology Democracy Solidarity", this new group is "independent", "neither in the majority nor in the opposition", write in their political declaration the elected officials.

Among them are former "walkers" like Matthieu Orphelin (close to Nicolas Hulot), LREM in the left wing like Aurélien Taché or Cédric Villani. Also included is the former PS Minister for Ecology Delphine Batho.

With this ninth group - a record - LREM lost seven of its members or relatives, falling to 288, just below the threshold of an absolute majority (289 seats) which it had previously held alone. A strong symbol even if the majority group can rely on the 46 MoDem and the ten elected officials Agir.

The group could however quickly recover the absolute majority if the future substitute of Olivier Gaillard (ex-LREM, who should leave his post of deputy to become mayor), joins the ranks of "walkers", as announced by the deputy.

The new group intends to contribute to "a strong ambition for social and ecological transformation".

"Responding to the ecological emergency, modernizing democracy, reducing social and territorial inequalities: we can do more and better in the National Assembly", say these deputies, for whom "after Covid-19, nothing should be left like before".

"We will push and support all decisions to meet the challenges, but will be able to oppose in all other cases", warn these deputies, all elected in 2017 under the LREM label with the exception of Delphine Batho. They say they are in an "open approach" and call on the deputies who meet there "to join in".

The group will be co-chaired by Matthieu Orphelin and the ex-LREM Paula Forteza. Delphine Batho and Cédric Villani will be vice-presidents, while Aurélien Taché and Emilie Cariou will be general delegates.

In a document, MEPs list their "top 15 priorities": this ranges from "a reindustrialization plan for regained sovereignty and autonomy" to the restoration of a system to "real transparency in public life" "robust" health insurance or an overhaul of "capital and heritage taxation".

Elected officials also display their commitment to gender equality. They underline that "never a French political group counted such a proportion of women" (65%).

© 2020 AFP