candidates not nominated by the left alliance still use the logo of the New Popular Front

Several “various left” candidates use the New Popular Front logo on their posters, notably the candidate for the 9th constituency of French people living abroad, Ismaël Boudjekada, accused of homophobic remarks, or Danielle Simonnet, deputy for the 20th arrondissement campaigning in Paris . “Usurpations” denounced by the movement, contacted by franceinfo.

Ismaël Boudjekada, accused of making homophobic remarks, is he a candidate of the New Popular Front? Invited on Sud Radio, the candidate for the 9th constituency of French people living abroad, initially presented by the media as a “candidate of the New Popular Front”, judged that homosexuality was not “not in the order of things”. The reactions were very quick. “It continues…the friends of the Islamist Popular Front persist in attacking gays,” writes on X the outgoing deputy of the National Rally, Sébastien Chenu. Ismaël Boudjekada’s comments are also denounced by the Renaissance candidate in Paris, Clément Beaune. Tweets are multiplying, presenting Ismaël Boudjekada as a candidate of the New Popular Front.

It’s wrong. The coordinator of France Insoumise, which is part of the left alliance, Manuel Bompard denied on X: “This person is not a member of France Insoumise and is not the candidate of the New Popular Front. Stop the disinformation.” On the website of the Ministry of the Interior, Ismaël Boudjekada is listed as a “various left” candidate. Karim Ben Cheïkh is the candidate under the New Popular Front banner.

The confusion first comes from the official France diplomatie website, which lists candidates from French people living abroad, where Ismaël Boudjekada is listed under the “New Popular Front” banner. It is a mistake. The candidate also fuels doubt. On its official poster and all its communication elements, we find the logo of the New Popular Front, with “candidate supporting the New Popular Front” written in small letters, which is confusing.

This is not the only candidate to use the New Popular Front logo without being an alliance candidate. The coalition, contacted by franceinfo, counts a “half dozen” of candidates who “claim the label of the New Popular Front”. “We are faced with usurpations”, reacts the campaign team. Among them: Raquel Garrido and Alexis Corbière, candidates in Seine-Saint-Denis, or even Danielle Simonnet, campaigning in Paris. Insoumis who did not obtain the investiture of France Insoumise and who returned to the campaign under the official label “divers left”. On her X account, Danielle Simonnet even presents herself as a “candidate of the New Popular Front”. She puts the official logo of the movement on her posters. Raquel Garrido uses the term “Popular Front”.

Questioned by franceinfo, the New Popular Front announces that it will send letters of formal notice to these candidates so that they stop using the logo and name of the New Popular Front. These candidates “take advantage of the blurring of benchmarks, there is a real desire to deceive voters”denounces the New Popular Front. “If necessary, we will go to court,” insists the campaign team. According to our information, the Europe Ecology Greens party also sent letters to dissident candidates claiming the New Popular Front label and who had affixed the Greens logo to their poster, such as Alexis Corbière.

Logos are indeed creations protected by copyright. They cannot be used by just anyone. The movement or political party that owns it, or the creator of the logo, can take legal action. The New Popular Front also plans to seize the administrative court to “non-respect of the sincerity of the vote”, a concept included in article L116 of the electoral code. It is then up to the judge to decide.

The Council of State has, for example, already confirmed the cancellation of municipal elections in 2021 for irregular use of logos on electoral leaflets. The judge ruled that there was a risk of confusion for voters because one of the candidates had affixed the logos of various associations. We could believe in support from these associations. More recently, in the midst of the campaign for the 2024 legislative elections, the administrative court of Lille, on the contrary, authorized left-wing dissident candidate Amy Bah to mention the New Popular Front on her campaign material. The courts rejected the request of the candidate nominated for the left alliance in the North, Aurélien Le Coq. The summary judge concluded that “the existence of a serious and manifestly illegal attack on the sincerity of the vote was not sufficiently established”.

In the event of victory for one of these dissident candidates, the New Popular Front plans to “appeal to the Constitutional Council to have the elections annulled”.