Between the rebels and the socialists, discussions are more difficult because the PS is on the verge of implosion. On Tuesday, former Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve announced that he would leave the PS if its leaders “forget what founds it and lose their compass of republican socialism” by joining forces with the Insoumis. The former First Secretary of the PS Jean-Christophe Cambadélis is just as hostile to this agreement, not to mention François Hollande or Anne Hidalgo. Finally, hundreds of executives and local elected officials gathered by the opponent of First Secretary Olivier Faure, the socialist mayor of Vaulx en-Velin, Hélène Geoffroy, signed an appeal to be indignant at this possible alliance and to call for consultation activists.
First there is the attitude of Jean-Luc Mélenchon. He fought relentlessly against the socialists in power from 2012 to 2017 under the five-year term of François Hollande. He then scorned left-wing parties in 2017 and challenged the very word “left”, which he deemed meaningless. After having imposed his leadership in the presidential election, he now wants to swallow a left too weak to resist him. As a humiliation, it’s quite successful…
Basically, there is the European commitment, the possibility of “disobeying”, in certain cases, the rules of the European Union, a historic spin for a party that has always been committed to European construction . There is international politics, the exit from NATO or the refusal to help Ukraine militarily advocated by Jean-Luc Mélenchon. There is also a spectacular takeover of the economy by the State which goes against the proposals and the practice in power of the Socialists with the nationalization of banks, EDF, Engie, highways or more airports. Not to mention the return to retirement at age 60 for all. Until then, the PS was in favor of maintaining the age of 62.
Basically, the socialists who are fighting this agreement refuse a historic turning point that would lead them to break with the culture of government that has allowed them to manage the country for 20 of the last 40 years. The electoral weight of the PS is still higher than the score of Anne Hidalgo. And his voters attached to a form of realism and above all to European commitment could turn their backs on him and in turn rally Emmanuel Macron.
Basically, reduced to a small group and subject to the rebels, it is the very existence of the PS that would be in question.