The left can win despite the “differences” between the parties, believes former socialist minister Marylise Lebranchu

Several left-wing parties, notably the PS, PCF, EELV and LFI, are calling for “the constitution of a new popular front” and “single candidates from the first round” of the anticipated legislative elections.

“Yes”the left can win in the next legislative elections despite the “differences” between the parties and despite the “not much time” to organize, believes the socialist Marylise Lebranchu, former Minister of Justice in the government of Lionel Jospin, between 2000 and 2002, president of the National Federation of Socialist and Republican Elected Officials, between 2010 and 2012, and outgoing deputy for Finistère.

franceinfo: Some socialists criticize the Popular Front on some points of divergence. Do you agree with them?

Marylise Lebranchu: If we had both time and big scores left, we could discuss all that. There are differences, which have been seen, which have been expressed, in particular in relation to international law applied to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in relation to what we should do or not say or not do with Mr. Putin. . In short, there have been differences, particularly in international politics. I think that given the situation, these differences, we can very well, if we take two hours for each, resolve them. Do we agree for Israel, Palestine, two states? Yes. Should the hostages be released? Of course. Should there be a ceasefire? Yes. Is Hamas a resistance movement? Because that was what shocked the most. No, it is a classified terrorist organization. There are simple things to say.

There are also differences on domestic policy, for example on pension reform…

Retiring at 60 isn’t just that. These are all the criteria of arduousness which fell with the Macron government, which we could put back so that those who work very hard can leave much earlier than the others. There are lots of things on which we can still not completely agree, but we have no choice, we have no choice.

You have no choice in the face of the rise of the far right?

People who no longer believe in politics have taken refuge in two far-right parties, in particular the RN. It is extremely violent because this party has only played on immigration and insecurity, but has not told all these angry people that the minimum wage will not increase, that we will not go back on the text of pensions to be able to form an alliance with the Republicans, that we will perhaps not go as far on unemployment insurance, but that we will not rob the rich and that we will not go looking for revenue where they are. In short, it is a right-wing party, violently right-wing, since, to this harsh condition that it predicts for these populations, it adds hatred of the other. There is an emergency there. I remain convinced that if these angry people vote another time, that is to say in the next legislative elections, because they do not have confidence in us, for the National Rally, then France is far right for a long time.

Are you worried about these legislative elections on June 30 and July 7?

Yes, I am worried, because it is very difficult to build an agreement in a few hours and the President of the Republic knew it. It’s very difficult to run a campaign in such a short time. We don’t even know if there will be papers in the printing houses. It is very difficult and I think that we will perhaps not have time to demonstrate what the National Rally really is, in particular in relation to what we call the working classes, who are in fact the class of people who expect better well-being, progress in their everyday lives. We might not have enough time. This is why I think that, even if we have to cover a few fewer constituencies, in addition, for some, for others, it is worth it. It’s definitely worth trying to get the best deal possible so you can tell those who are struggling that there is hope. However, today, they do not yet have one.

Do you think the left has a chance of winning?

Yes, when you look at all the results, yes, naturally. The National Rally will prevent progress. If we succeed in getting this message across this first week, then perhaps in the second week, we will be able to get across the other message which is to say who can improve the living conditions of the majority of French people. It is the left which, precisely, has in its guts, in its heart, in its reasoning, the fact that inequalities are too violent and that in Parliament, we can correct that.