Solène Delinger 4:19 p.m., September 19, 2021

Montebourg, Hidalgo, Mélenchon, Jadot, Rousseau ... The left bends under the candidatures for the presidential election of 2022. A multiplication of suitors which risks to cost him dearly.

Invited to the microphone of Thierry Dagiral, the political scientist Rémi Lefebvre estimated that the left had at this stage "no chance" to pass the course of the first round.

Interview. 

INTERVIEW

The idea of ​​a joint candidacy on the left for 2022 is nothing more than a pipe dream.

For several weeks, personal ambitions have multiplied.

Arnaud Montebourg announced that he was going, Anne Hidalgo too.

Without forgetting Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of rebellious France.

As for the Greens, five candidates are participating in the primary, which we will discover on Sunday afternoon the results of the first round.

The left therefore presents itself totally atomized in the race for the Elysee Palace and this could cost it its place in the first round of the presidential election, according to political scientist Rémi Lefebvre, who answered Thierry Dagiral's questions for Europe 1. 

Historically low electoral potential of the left

"There is no space left for so many candidates," he said.

"It is a form of political suicide that is launched. There are five candidates while the electoral potential of the left is historically low, at 25%. Today, for lack of a primary of the whole left, c 'is a primary by the polls which is in the process of committing. As no one stands out, everyone is a candidate. We can hope for the left that the voters decant this situation of explosion because it has no chance , at this stage, to pass the course of the first round of the presidential elections ". 

An internal vote to decide between Stéphane Le Foll and Anne Hidalgo

Reelected at the head of the PS, Olivier Faure somehow tried to display a semblance of unity during the 79th party congress, in Villeurbanne. He thus took the pose alongside his competitor Hélène Geoffroy, whose motion to become secretary general of the party had collected 27% of the votes. If the activists present loved this image of union, the reality is much more contrasted. Stéphane Le Foll, the mayor of Le Mans continues to demand another line, much more assertive. And especially a real primary of the PS to which he intends to present himself against Anne Hidalgo. "I always offer Anne Hidalgo a debate on television," he said in the columns of the JDD. "When we claim, like her and the PS, participatory democracy and citizens' votes, the minimum isaccept to debate ". A pious wish, since there will be no public confrontation between the mayor of Paris and the other potential candidates, of which Stéphane Le Foll is part. In Villeurbanne, Olivier Faure has indeed that there would only have an internal vote to nominate the socialist candidate, which will take place on October 14th.  

Anne Hidalgo, big favorite 

And it is Anne Hidalgo who is in everyone's mind at the PS.

"There is no suspense around this vote", assures Rémi Lefebvre.

"Stéphane Le Foll signed the motion of Hélène Geoffroy, who lost to Olivier Faure. He has no chance of winning against Anne Hidalgo".

The mayor of Paris is however likely to live a difficult campaign because of the "lack of enthusiasm" of the electorate of the left, according to the political scientist.

"Olivier Faure assured in his speech in Villeurbanne that the PS was the driving force of the left. But its political space and its credibility are still questionable," he concludes.