The activists of the first hour responded present. As soon as François Hollande entered the multipurpose hall of Saint-Hilaire-Peyroux in Corrèze, the 200 people rose from their chairs to applaud him. A few handshakes, hugs, smiles and thanks before joining the front of the stage.
– Philippine Thibaudault
The rebuilding of the party
It was Paul Roche, the secretary of the Socialist Party in Corrèze, who welcomed him, recalling in his speech that “François Hollande has been coming to the Corrèze Rose Festival for 41 years”. Paul Roche recalls the fundamentals of the Socialist Party : “public services, the fight against inequalities, secularism, European construction… I believe that we have all these themes to work on to restore the confidence of our fellow citizens and ensure that the left regains its colors and can one day to be called upon to govern again”.
Célian, a 16-year-old activist, is full of hope for the future of the party. “I was attracted to the PS for its history, it proves that the left is capable of doing great things” he breathes.
– Philippine Thibaudault
There is the circumstance and not even the alliance
Many activists recognize that politicians, including the Socialist Party, have made mistakes in the pastleaving room for the far right to settle. “We were not educational enough. We let ourselves be carried away a little by liberalism and we paid the price. There is work. What is needed is to debate” defends Jacques, an activist for 50 years. The PS congress, the date of which will soon be announced, will also be an opportunity to debate and thus decide on the future of the Socialist Party.
The left as the main opposition
It is then the turn of the former President of the Republic to take the microphone. “There must be an opposition, there must be a force that can represent the alternative tomorrow, and thus not let the far right embody this change, prevent the left from being in a position of radicalism or sterile opposition” proclaims François Hollande. Exit the alliance with the NUPES, the Socialist Party wants to go it alone. He adds : “I had spoken of a covenant of circumstance a year ago. Now there is the circumstance and not even the covenant.”
Jacques nods as he listens to François Hollande. “There are incompatibilities, not only of people, but of ideas: in particular on Europe, immigration, the economy etc” emphasizes the activist.
Who will lead the Socialist Party?
With the congress in sight, François Hollande like Paul Roche, benefit from it to criticize the inaction and “erasure” of the Socialist Party since Olivier Faure has directed it. But François Hollande does not comment on the candidate who could take the lead of the party following the congress of the left. “For the moment, there is a disembodiment, so it will not be difficult to find a figure who will want to put the Socialist Party back to work on a line which is that of audacity, because it is always necessary , and credibility”.
Célian, the youngest activist in the room, already has an idea of the person he would like to see take over the reins of the party: Carole Delga, President of the regional council of Occitanie.