Former PS minister François Rebsamen votes Macron, "the most competent"

Europe 1 with AFP 6:27 p.m., March 5, 2022

The former number two of the PS and ex-Minister of Labour, François Rebsamen, announced on Saturday that he would vote for Emmanuel Macron in the presidential election, "no other" candidate being "more competent".

"It's an obvious choice. No other candidate seems more competent today," the mayor of Dijon told AFP, confirming an announcement made to the daily Le Parisien to be published on Sunday.

Emmanuel Macron has "the stature and credibility of a head of state"

Emmanuel Macron has "the stature and credibility of a head of state. He has proven it every day while we are at war", explained this close friend of former socialist president François Hollande who denies aiming for a post of minister under Macron.

"I ask nothing for myself".

The rallying to Macronie of this former number two of the PS (1997 to 2008) was hardly in doubt.

Last July, he had signed a platform of 350 mayors saluting the "courage" of Emmanuel Macron.

In October, he had discussed "common causes" with Territories of Progress, which brings together the left wing of the presidential majority.

But the Burgundian said to join the outgoing president with his "lucidity, knowing the negative and positive aspects of the five-year term".

"The policy of whatever it costs is one of the major elements that made me evolve", he added, welcoming that France had become "one of the most protective countries in Europe by paying the 8.5 million French people" unemployed during the Covid crisis.

The socialist, who in 2018 accused Emmanuel Macron of "privileging the richest", however, remains opposed to the abolition of the wealth tax, as well as the reform of unemployment insurance to "differences in allowances which do not are not acceptable" and which "will have to be remedied.

"I remain a socialist"

Thus, it is to "weigh" on a new Macron five-year term that François Rebsamen wants to create an "independent social democratic movement" after the presidential election.

"We cannot leave Emmanuel Macron alone with the right," he said.

To do this, "personalities will join me", he assures without giving names.

Several other PS figures have recently joined Macronie, including ex-minister Marisol Touraine and Manuel Valls, the former head of government of François Hollande (2014-2016).

Former Minister of Labor (2014-15), François Rebsamen had already distanced himself from the PS when Olivier Faure was elected as its head in September.

"The PS has become sectarian and no longer speaks to popular circles. It has no vision, no program. Anne Hidalgo is the victim of this", he regretted.

The socialist candidate is credited with 2% in the last BVA poll published on Friday, behind the PCF (5%).

But "I am and I remain a socialist", insisted François Rebsamen.