INVESTIGATION. After a year of existence, tensions are exacerbated at Nupes

La Nupes celebrates its first anniversary this week, and the champagne tastes like vinegar. Relations within the left-wing coalition have never been so strained. Evidenced by the meeting, Tuesday, May 2, between the leaders of the four parties that make up the Nupes. A stage point with the air of a great unpacking. No more spades through the media or meetings exclusively by video, the leaders of the Nupes find themselves for real in a neutral place, even if close to the headquarters of La France insoumise, Gare de l’Est in Paris.

Each is accompanied by two or three comrades, resentment in the throat for some, and it is Fabien Roussel, the leader of the communists, who according to information from franceinfo puts his foot in the dish: for him, the Nupes “is a straitjacket”participants tell us, a cold shower for the audience.

Political disagreements and personal tensions

The tension of the moment is the disagreement on a common list for the European elections. The number 2 of LFI, Manuel Bompard takes Marine Tondelier to task, the boss of the Greens who has been opposed for months to the idea of ​​a common list. “Do you maintain that I am a forcer? he throws at her, in reference to remarks she made in an interview, do you know it’s a term that refers to sexist and sexual violence?”

Marine Tondelier maintains, rebels insist, a communist speaks of a “kind of pressing” against the environmentalist. Then the discussions resume around Act 2 of the Nupes, with reflections on how to make the Nupes live outside the Assembly. In all, the meeting lasts three hours of roller coaster, between blow on the table of an annoyed rebellious and sometimes embarrassed laughter. A text message exchanged by two participants says a lot about the atmosphere: “What are these puppets?” writes the first, speaking of the rebels. The other responds: “No, the puppets, at least they are funny”.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon concentrates the critics

“It’s Aunt Danielle de la Nupes”, quips a participant about Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who was not at the meeting since he no longer has an official function at LFI. His partners recalled their desire to break with the one who reigns “a screed of lead” above the covenant he created. “Do you want to shut him up? cut off the right arm of the rebellious leader, Manuel Bompard, then make 22% in the presidential election”.

>>> EDITORIAL. Nupes: what remains of Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s leadership?