The French Socialist Party (PS) ratified on Thursday evening (5 October) by a large majority the decision to have an independent list for the upcoming European elections, dashing the last hopes of the radical left for a joint list.
The aim of the vote was to decide on the Socialist Party’s strategy for the European elections in June 2024, at a time when the left is seeking to preserve a degree of unity. Some members of the Socialist Party, radical left La France Insoumise and the Greens felt that it was necessary to have a single list for the left, including for the European elections, to preserve unity in the left-wing camp.
With the far-right growing, this could increase the left’s chances of winning the next presidential election, which will take place in 2027. The NUPES coalition for the 2022 parliamentary elections brought the main left-wing parties closer together, resulting in the election of around 150 MPs.
However, a majority within NUPES consider that there are still too many differences between the left-wing parties on European issues. What’s more, current projections show that a single list would garner fewer votes – and therefore fewer elected representatives – than if each party went to the polls separately on 9 June.
The decision by socialist activists was expected and follows moves by the Greens and the Communists, to announce their own lists.
A month ago, the National Bureau – the PS’s executive committee – unanimously approved the decision, which has now been validated by activists. The final results of Thursday’s vote were not known at the time of publication, but Euractiv has been told that in several local sections they were close to 90% in favour.
On Thursday evening, the PS gave AFP similar figures, based on more than 60% of the ballots counted.
First secretary, Olivier Faure, who is regarded as pro-NUPES, defended the decision of his party’s members on Friday morning.
Speaking on Sud radio, he said that “we need a Europe that is aware of its strength and its responsibilities” and that “ensures its own sovereignty”.
While the Socialists are the only left-wing party to be part of Ursula von der Leyen’s parliamentary majority, he praised its record: the EU “has suspended the Stability Pact, produced a common debt, the Green Deal”.
“Europe may be changing its software”, he said, at a time when “the right and far right are doing everything they can to turn back the clock: competition, uncontrolled free trade and austerity”.
Asked about support for Ukraine, he replied that arms deliveries should continue. This was necessary not only for the Ukrainians, but “also for Europe” and its security, said Faure.
As for nuclear power, a major dividing line with the ecologists and the rebels, he called for “acceptance of the idea” that “decarbonised” nuclear power was necessary for the transition.
He also criticised Germany’s “colossal mistake” in deciding to reopen coal-fired power stations. The aim remains to attempt a nuclear phase-out once renewable energies have reached “maturity”. For the time being, nuclear power is being used to decarbonise the economy.
No top candidate yet
The Greens and the Communists have already chosen their top candidates for next June’s polls. Mélenchon’s La France Insoumise, still seeking a compromise for a single list, had appointed Manon Aubry as “coordinator” of the campaign and tasked her with pursuing efforts to unite the left.
For its part, the PS has not yet chosen its head of list. It could be outgoing MEP Raphaël Glucksmann (of the Place publique party), who led the Socialist list in 2019. When he announced his own candidacy, he had already rejected the idea of a list including the Insoumis and the Communists, due to fundamental differences.
The various left-wing parties are due to meet again on 19 October, at the initiative of Green top candidate Marie Toussaint.
In a recent interview with Euractiv, she said that she wanted to conclude “a non-aggression pact” between the left-wing groupings: “We are separated, but not divided”, said the Green MEP, who refused to “give in to the war of the lefts”.
[Edited by Benjamin Fox]
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Source: euractiv.com
