RN Congress: a rout and many doubts

Activists from the French far-right Rassemblement national (RN) party arrive to attend the RN summer school in Perpignan, July 3, 2021. AFP - RAYMOND ROIG

Text by: RFI Follow

3 min

Dull atmosphere in Perpignan.

Meeting in congress this Saturday, a week after the regional debacle, the National Rally (RN) tried to hide its very disappointing scores last Sunday.

Yet in the party, some are beginning to doubt 2022. Report.

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With our special

correspondent

in Perpignan,

Anne Soetemondt 

 “

So dear friends, I do not know if we will find the miracle recipe to fight against abstention.

" 

The spokesman of the party, Laurent Jacobelli, sets the tone.

The poor results of the regional are only the result of abstention.

A refrain repeated in a loop by all the speakers: "

 I have no absolutely magic solution 

," says Edwige Diaz, who was the candidate for regional in New Aquitaine.

The new mayor of Moissac, Romain Lopez approaches, in a hushed way, the question of strategy: nationalizing the campaign, investing candidates sent by Paris was perhaps not always a good idea.

“

Because it is not by arriving in a town six months before with a parachute that we will get to business. So, local establishment is clearly important, 

”he insists. “ 

You cannot judge an election that has not taken place. Why didn't it take place? There were no voters, 

”he continues to applause. Because if many do not dare to evoke the doubts which cross the party, the concern is well there: and if the

failure of the regional ones

was a bad signal for

2022

 ? " 

I hope that next year we will be in the second round already, and if there is so much abstention that necessarily will not do it, 

" adds Romain Lopez.

►

To read also: Regional in France: Thierry Mariani and the RN stumble in Paca

What if Marine Le Pen's strategy - demonization - normalization - openness, was not the right one? 

“

I believe that she is effectively losing a lot of activists who no longer really know where she is going.

As Jean-Marie says, it would take a little more virility.

We are going a little too far to the left,

 ”said the mayor of Moissac.

Ten months before the presidential election, Marine le Pen was no doubt hoping for a better campaign launch.

► To read also: Marine Le Pen facing his party: the beginning of a sling?

Opening of the RN congress in Perpignan.

First speech of the afternoon, Franck Allisio takes stock of the last elections "we have the calm of the old troops (..) with at our head a head of the family who has seen others" pic.twitter.com / GbjUDFoBTR

- Anne Soetemondt (@annecha) July 3, 2021

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