Cambadélis calls on PS figures to "oppose" an agreement with LFI and "refound" the party

"It's time to coordinate to resist and rebuild. Let's talk, Friends!", He launches in an "open letter to François Hollande, Bernard Cazeneuve, Jean-Marc Ayrault, Anne Hidalgo, Hélène Geoffroy, Stéphane Le Foll, Martine Aubry, Patrick Kanner, Rachid Temal, Valérie Rabault, Patrick Mennucci, Philippe Doucet and to all Socialists".

"It is a strategic question which is in question. There has rarely been in the history of the Socialist Party a strategic congress. There if a renewed own identity or integration into a mélenchonisé bloc", he underlines, in denouncing "the path chosen by the current leadership of the Socialist Party" which means that "the first of the beaten (Jean-Luc Mélenchon, editor's note) should be the first in line".

Pleading for a "deep overhaul" and a "responsible transformation left, uninhibited vis-à-vis radicalism", he also wonders about the absence of "discussions with environmentalists" in favor of an "exclusive negotiation with Mélenchon".

Jean-Christophe Cambadélis had already, after the bitter failure of Anne Hidalgo in the first round of the presidential election in mid-April, called on the PS to dissolve and the current first secretary Olivier Faure to resign, to allow "the creation of a other party".

While an agreement is being negotiated between the PS and LFI for the legislative elections, he judges it both "in form and substance (...) not acceptable as it stands", and considers that “it is necessary, if such an agreement were confirmed, to oppose it. Because in the end, it is the possibility of rebuilding which is in question”.

Such an agreement would pose a problem of "method", because "it is not a question of a coalition proposal but of a surrender".

"The slogan is Mélenchon, the Prime Minister is Mélenchon, the campaign photo is Mélenchon, the program is Mélenchon, and the common acronym will be imposed on everyone: it's always Mélenchon", denounces M Cambadelis.

He also evokes "programmatic reasons" for refusing it, citing LFI's desire to "leave the European treaties", "found the Sixth Republic", bring retirement back to 60 and launch "impractical dizzying expenses".

And, "reasons of representation", with Socialists "sacrificed" then the PS "won cities during the last municipal elections".

© 2022 AFP