“Only a socialist can calm” France, believes Marseille Mayor Benoît Payan

Benoît Payan, however, declared himself ready to broaden the left bloc towards “Macronist deputies” who would agree with the bases of the NFP program.

“I think that a socialist is needed to govern this country because there is only a socialist in this situation who can calm things down, who can speak to everyone,” defended the diverse left-wing mayor of Marseille, Benoît Payan, on franceinfo on Tuesday July 9.

The mayor painted a portrait of the future Prime Minister: “We must be able to bring people together and we must be extremely, extremely determined (…) and above all, we must not disappoint.” “The country needs to come together”hammered home the mayor of Marseille, who nevertheless ruled out any candidacy for Matignon. “I happen to be the mayor of the most beautiful city in France, with which I am madly in love, and it is the only one that counts.”he said. “There is no reason why one Insoumis should be more than another”also argued the mayor of Marseille, who runs the city with a united left. Remarks which therefore seem to exclude Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who is still running for Matignon.

“The New Popular Front will implement its program, nothing but its entire program,” thundered the leader of LFI. Jean-Luc Mélenchon “is mistaken”, replied Benoît Payan, recalling in passing that the rebellious leader was “a great socialist minister”Since he distanced himself from the socialists in 2008, the three-time presidential candidate has continued to clash with his former party. “I think he is mistaken about the method because we cannot, from the outside, dictate to one and all what the reality of the chamber will be.”he continued.

“I don’t say my whole program, just my program”repeated the mayor of the Phocaean city. “There are things I don’t want to compromise on, the increase in the minimum wage and the pension reform. We’re going to put them on the table.”he stressed. “If deputies consider that the proposals that will be made by the New Popular Front correspond to their support (…) they will be welcome”he said. According to Benoît Payan, this involves broadening the left bloc towards “Macronist deputies” who would agree with the basics of the NFP program. “If there are Macronist MPs who are ready to say ‘I agree with them’, what right do I or anyone else have to tell them ‘I don’t want your votes’? What is this sectarianism which consists of saying ‘above all, let’s remain withdrawn into ourselves and be incapable of broadening a coalition or broadening, on our bases, a political spectrum?'”he explained.