NFP’s endless negotiations are causing “a lot of weariness, a bit of anger too” among left-wing activists

The New Popular Front forces have still not agreed on a name for the post of Prime Minister. The activists still want to believe in an agreement, but they do not hide their incomprehension in the face of the recurring blockages.

The negotiations are still not conclusive on the left. Marine Tondelier, leader of the Ecologists, demonstrated on Wednesday July 17th “anger” in the face of the leadership war between the Insoumis and the socialists. “I am disgusted”she said on France 2. No channel of discussion has been broken, Olivier Faure, the leader of the socialists, specified during the day. Faced with this quagmire, how are left-wing activists reacting, who recently took action during the early legislative elections? Franceinfo asked them the question in Lyon.

“In other European countries it took them a year to form a government, so sometimes patience is the mother of all virtues, says Alice, a 30-year-old left-wing activist who remains optimistic. But if they could decide, that would be great for everyone.” She works in the community, in working-class neighborhoods, and took action in an emergency. “With the rise of the RN, we were so afraid that I told myself that we had to act.”

“I don’t want ego wars to cause all this democratic momentum to collapse.”

Alice, 30, left-wing activist

to franceinfo

Manon is only 19 years old. Having just graduated from high school, she entered politics last June and advocates compromise. First within the left, then for a rapprochement with the Macronists. “Where the day before, we spat on each other, it is difficult afterwards to make compromises, she admits. But I think that’s where we have to go. My wish is that politicians take their responsibilities and try, as best they can, to pass everything they can by making compromises, provided that the opposing camp also takes a step towards them.”

Manon would see more of a socialist Prime Minister when Alice would advocate for civil society. “It’s true that someone from the field, from the associative world, is interesting, she believes. Maybe there are some names that we don’t know and that will totally stand out and make a lot of promise, we hope.”

Arthur, a 30-year-old engineer, was supported by this New Popular Front. “Not being a member of the National Assembly, it meant that I didn’t have to choose between different political lines, which is quite advantageous.” He distributed leaflets, organized a meeting in Lyon and since then, there has been “a lot of weariness, a bit of anger too, this feeling that our vote is being betrayed a bit. Then very lucid about the fact that the New Popular Front is made up of parties that do not have an equal line on all subjects, and that is quite normal. On the other hand, I see the subjects of discord today, these are the subjects that make me angry.”

“I am thinking for example of the two names that have been announced as Prime Minister, the fact that we have de facto blockages without discussions, hard blockages, poses a huge problem for me.”

Arthur, 30 years old

to franceinfo

“Because I don’t understand them. I heard Marine Tondelier say on Wednesday that we were going to meet up with Laurent Wauquiez [à Matignon] to work like this, I completely agree.” Arthur would be in favour of a vote by the deputies to finally agree on a name for Matignon.