“You are here and I am here too. I respect you, I am not afraid of anything, I am not afraid of anyone and I am certainly not afraid of debate”. This is what Secretary of State Marlène Schiappa said during a debate with Alexis Corbière organized by La France insoumise, Friday August 26, on the occasion of their summer “Amfis”, in Valence (Drôme ).
On form, the debate was far from the boxing ring. The hour of discussion took place in an amphitheater and the theme, “being a republican today”, was reminiscent of a philosophy baccalaureate subject. Face tense and half-smile, when Marlène Schiappa arrived on stage, the Secretary of State was not very comfortable in front of thousands of Insoumis seated in front of her and white-hot. Yet she is applauded, not as much as Alexis Corbière, but she is applauded all the same.
The atmosphere was therefore rather calm even if the tension rose at times with boos. Throughout the debate, which at first resembled a literary TV show, the exchange remained cordial between Schiappa and Corbière, each seated on a black armchair. Alexis Corbière even called his political opponent a “respectful”of “courageous” and “intelligent”after apologizing for having spoken of his father once in the hemicycle.
During the exchange, Marlène Schiappa played the consensus by talking about feminism, the regularization of immigrant workers who helped France during the Covid-19 crisis. But tempers flared when the themes of public service and or school were discussed, especially when the word Parcoursup is pronounced: “It’s a system that is not simple”, even recognized the Secretary of State for the Social and Solidarity Economy.
At the end, after standing in front of the crowd, she said: “You are here and I am here too. I respect you, I am not afraid of anything, I am not afraid of anyone and I am certainly not afraid of debate. It is not because you are hundreds and maybe even thousands today, and that I am all alone to defend my ideas, that I am afraid and that I will sit down or I will leave”.
With the presence of Marlène Schiappa or with that of the Minister of Transport Clément Beaune who debated against the rebellious Manon Aubry on Europe, the objective was to strengthen the left wing of the majority government, especially since ‘we lend to Clément Beaune but also to Olivia Grégoire who will pass her oral on Saturday, desires for the town hall of Paris.
And in view of the results in the legislative elections, they will have to convince the rebellious voters, hence perhaps the excess of conciliation of Marlène Schiappa. However, Marlène Schiappa quickly left the summer universities of the Insoumis, unlike the LR Rachida Dati who also has views on the town hall of Paris and who will face the rebellious activists in the aisles of the summer universities for the continuation of the debates on Saturday.