• By obtaining 25.14% of the vote on Sunday, Sandrine Rousseau qualified for the second round of the ecological primary against Yannick Jadot, in the lead at 27.7%.

  • The economist highlights his "radicalism" in the face of the pragmatism of his competitor.

  • "I dispute the conception that is given of radicalism," replied Yannick Jadot on Monday, who nevertheless relies on his unifying profile to win.

For some, it is the surprise of the primary environmentalist.

With 25.14% of the vote, Sandrine Rousseau qualified for the second round on Sunday against Yannick Jadot, who came slightly ahead at 27.7%.

"The time for small steps and support is no longer the time", launched the candidate, claiming a cleavage with her competitor.

“Yannick Jadot wears an ecology that I respect but which is not mine.

Me, I am an environmentalist of the left, radical, social ”, she warned.

"There is a desire for radicalism in society"

Little known to the general public, withdrawing from her political family after the Baupin affair, Sandrine Rousseau emerged in this primary on an “ecofeminist” line. “We take, we use and we throw away the bodies of women, of the most vulnerable in society and of racialized people. We no longer want this system, it is the revolution that I am proposing to you, ”she said at the end of August at the Summer Days in Poitiers, in a speech much applauded by the militants. The economist seduces by defending a “radical ecology”, defending the insertion income, a more egalitarian tax reform, and the fight against predations.

“There is a desire for radicalism in society, because people are well aware of the climate emergency.

The time for half-measures is over, and it is not with social democracy that we will change things, ”defends his spokesperson Thomas Portes, targeting in hollow the positioning of Yannick Jadot.

"Yannick's radicalism is to put ecology in power"

But the MEP refuses to let himself be locked into the “eco-pragmatic” box.

"I dispute the conception that is given of radicalism," exclaimed Yannick Jadot on France Inter on Monday.

“Radicality is not just words: I've been green for 30 years, I have been with the peasants to fight against free trade, I have been with the oppressed women in Bangladesh, I have been spied on by EDF, I pulled out GMOs.

"

By collecting only a quarter of the votes, the big favorite of the poll is however far from having won. Contrary to what his camp hoped, the large participation (106,000 votes cast) did not kill the match in the first round. And even if he enjoys better notoriety with the general public, the candidate must first appeal to the most politicized environmental activists and sympathizers. He cannot therefore be locked in the right wing of EELV, especially after the good scores of Eric Piolle and Delphine Batho, at more than 22%.

“Yannick's radicalism is to put ecology in power, to act in deeds and not in words.

That's all his background shows.

He has never ceded anything to the lobbies, from his time at Greenpeace to the fight against electric fishing in the European Parliament, ”said Eva Sas, spokesperson for EELV and support for Jadot.

Can radicalism bring together the greatest number?

His relatives also praise his consensual profile, more able to bring together a majority of French people. “The ecologists wish to pass a course, not to be any more in the testimony. We did it in cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants [in the municipal elections of 2020], we want to do it now at the national level, ”continues Eva Sas. “We are coming out of a five-year period of tension. You have to unite around a project and - this is perhaps the main difference - Yannick wants to do it with the union forces, industrial workers, farmers… ”

Because if Sandrine Rousseau has seduced some environmentalists with her “cash” speech, her clear-cut interventions have sometimes been accompanied by controversies. As when she assures that "ecology is not white men on bicycles", or that she says her preference for "women who cast spells on engineers who build EPRs". Could these radical outings repel some of the voters? “Radicality is the only way to win,” answers Thomas Portes. Sandrine Rousseau has brought back people disgusted with politics, by making herself the spokesperson for anger and discrimination ”.

Alain Coulombel, support of Eric Piolle, summarizes the choice of the coming days.

“It is more a question of communication than of substance, because the EELV project is already radical.

In reality, what is the best way to shift part of the opinion on the climate emergency?

“Asks the spokesperson for EELV.

“Yannick Jadot relies more on appeasement so as not to frighten public opinion.

Sandrine Rousseau embodies the theme of urgency in a more distinct way, echoing the most politicized part of public opinion, especially young people, who have a desire for radicalism.

"

Elections

Primary environmentalist: "Sandrine Rousseau can win" in the second round, according to a specialist in political ecology

Politics

Presidential 2022: Yannick Jadot and Sandrine Rousseau qualified for the second round of the environmentalist primary

  • Presidential election

  • Elections

  • Primary

  • ecology

  • Primary ecologist

  • Yannick Jadot

  • EELV