Europe 1 with AFP 10:36 a.m., February 17, 2022

Ségolène Royal estimated Wednesday on BFMTV, that "today, it is obvious that the useful vote on the left is the Mélenchon vote".

The former socialist candidate for the 2007 presidential election said that the candidate of rebellious France is doing "the best campaign" and is "the most solid".

The former socialist candidate for the 2007 presidential election Ségolène Royal said on Wednesday that "today it is obvious that the useful vote on the left is the Mélenchon vote", the leader of rebellious France.

"He is the one who is doing the best campaign. He is smoothing over what could displease him. He is able to answer all the questions. He is structured, cultured. He has the experience of a presidential campaign. He knows how to take blows. He is the strongest," she assured BFMTV.

"If the left wants to be in the second round, the leaders must come together, looking at what brings us together and not what divides us, and the useful vote on the left is Jean-Luc Mélenchon", added Ms. Royal , beaten in the second round by Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007. Jean-Luc Mélenchon thanked him on Twitter.

"I thank @RoyalSegolene for his words of rallying towards my candidacy. His merit is all the more respectable because I know that his support is not a rallying. So I am very grateful to him for that".

I thank @RoyalSegolene for her rallying words regarding my candidacy.

His merit is all the more respectable because I know that his support is not a rallying.

So I'm very grateful to him.

— Jean-Luc Melenchon (@JLMelenchon) February 16, 2022

Strong reactions from the Socialist Party

In the Socialist Party, the tone is less friendly.

"And to say that @RoyalSegolene advocated FRA-TER-NI-TE and protested against the fact that women are always asked to give way to men!" Tackled Senator Rachid Temal.

“We are far very far from the beautiful campaign of 2007 of Ségolène royale … ​​What a waste”, also tweeted Julien Dray.

With around 10% of voting intentions, the rebellious candidate is currently the best-placed left-wing candidate, even if he remains far from his right-wing (Valérie Pécresse) and far-right (Marine Le Pen and Eric Zemmour) rivals. which are given around 15% and especially Emmanuel Macron estimated around 25% in the 1st round.