Alexis Corbière, Raquel Garrido, Danielle Simonnet… LFI offers itself a psychodrama by dismissing several historical figures

Adrien Quatennens, on the other hand, is present on the list of 230 candidates nominated by the party. These decisions were strongly denounced internally, in particular by François Ruffin and Clémentine Autain.

The day began with an image of unity on the left, with the agreement reached between partners to seal a New Popular Front. But it ended with a gaping fissure within La France insoumise (LFI), accused of “purge” or “sectarianism” after publishing the names of 230 candidates for the ballot on June 30 and July 7. Several outgoing deputies expressed their anger publicly, particularly on social networks.

In question, first of all, the controversial presence of Adrien Quatennens, outgoing deputy for the first constituency of the North, sentenced in December 2022 to four months of suspended imprisonment for domestic violence. His case was debated on the left, particularly among socialists and ecologists, but this loyalist of the leader of the Insoumis Jean-Luc Mélenchon was indeed reappointed. “To all those who oppose or doubt the relevance of my candidacy, know that I understand you. I hope to be able, humbly, and through my actions, to regain your trust”reacted Adrien Quatennens in a press release.

On the other hand, Danielle Simonnet, elected in Paris, as well as Raquel Garrido and Alexis Corbière, deputies from Seine-Saint-Denis, who embody discordant voices within LFI, were brutally dismissed and replaced by other candidates. The latter reacted strongly on the social network X. “An obscure LFI electoral commission decided not to nominate me as a candidate. A punishment for having voiced internal criticism. Shame”he said to himself “obviously still a candidate” in a constituency where he was re-elected in the first round in 2022. He intends to denounce “irresponsible decisions”Saturday at 8:30 a.m. on franceinfo.

Raquel Garrido, his partner in the city, also deplored on “pay for the crime of lèse-Mélenchon”. “Shame on you Jean-Luc Mélenchon. It’s sabotage. But I will do better. We will do better”she wrote again, denouncing “disgusting methods”. Last fall, Ms. Garrido, formerly Mr. Mélenchon’s lawyer, was sanctioned for four months by LFI for having openly criticized several members of the movement and Jean-Luc Mélenchon, around governance or the party’s strategy.

As for Danielle Simonnet, she deeply regretted “a purge of deputies committed to unity”. “While I once again brought together hundreds of citizens in my constituency this evening, by email, like four other comrades and without even a phone call, I learned that I am not invested,” she said. still indignant on the social network.

The outgoing LFI deputies Hendrik Davi (Bouches-du-Rhône) and Frédéric Mathieu (Ille-et-Vilaine) were also not included in this list which notably includes the CGT trade unionist Céline Verzeletti or even Lyes Louffok, activist of the child rights defender and essayist.

Frédéric Mathieu denounced that LFI “choose the division”while Hendrik Davi spoke of a lack of “decency” in these evictions, which sparked a wider wave of internal indignation. “I have not passed under the caudine forks of your stupidity, your sectarianismsaid François Ruffin, in a response addressed to the party. You prefer a man who hits his wife, perpetrator of domestic violence, to comrades who have the impudence to have a disagreement with the great leader. Our democracy deserves better than you.”

MP Clémentine Autain also delivered a virulent charge against LFI, where “it is better to have been convicted of domestic violence than to have defended democracy, demonstrated against anti-Semitism after October 7 and pleaded for the union of the left and environmentalists”.

“Purge people who are not linemen but keep Quatennens, that says a lot about your methods and your relationship 1) to feminism, 2) to disagreements”added ecologist Marie-Charlotte Garin.