Communists propose Huguette Bello as Prime Minister

President of the regional council of La Réunion, Huguette Bello is a “hyphenate” candidate for Matignon, according to Fabien Roussel’s entourage.

After five days of negotiations, the left still cannot agree on a candidate for the post of Prime Minister. In an attempt to unblock the discussions, the communists proposed, on Friday, July 12, the name of Huguette Bello, president of the regional council of La Réunion.

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“We are really in favour of exploring the Huguette Bello track. She has all the assets. Woman, overseas, experience, local elected official, parliamentarian for twenty-three years, a lot of authority”, confirms to franceinfo a member of the French Communist Party. “This will allow us to get out of the sterile deadlock of the last few days. It was proposed by Fabien Roussel, La France Insoumise seems in favour of it”, adds this source.

Huguette Bello “actually has the material, the thickness to be able to fulfill this function”assured Fabien Roussel on BFMTV on Friday evening. At the head of a community “who faces enormous difficulties, she knows what it is like to fight against unsanitary housing, precariousness, poverty”stressed the head of the PCF, who explained that he had mentioned this option “two nights ago”, during negotiations between left-wing partners.

A profile that could constitute “a solution”according to Jean-Luc Mélenchon. Huguette Bello “ticks many boxes” to become Prime Minister, he said on Friday evening. In front of activists gathered in Paris, the leader of La France Insoumise praised the career of this “racialized woman and anti-racist feminist”. “Rebels, communists and greens”, “at least three formations agree” to support Huguette Bello’s candidacy for Matignon, he assured, asking the socialists to take into account “consideration” this “solution”.

The PS leadership is due to meet on Saturday in a national council to decide the issue, franceinfo has learned. Little known to the general public, Huguette Bello is close to both the rebels and the communists. This loyal follower of Jean-Luc Mélenchon was a member of parliament for the PCF and a candidate on Manon Aubry’s rebel list in the European elections, in a non-eligible position.