The second round of the presidential election was barely over when the country’s major political forces were already turned towards the legislative elections on 12th and 19th June next. In the Rhône, one month before the election, all eyes are on Vénissieux and the 14th district. If the commune in the south-east of Lyon attracts particular attention, it is because certain political parties have decided to present media figures there. And because others, like the PCF, have no intention of letting things go.
The national alliances forged between LFI and all the other left-wing parties do not delight everyone. Far from it. The decision does not pass on the side of the Communists of Vénissieux, whose candidate for the legislative elections, Michèle Picard, has been declared since January. The local section of the PCF deplores “a decision taken in Paris”, without consultation with the local actors, and reaffirms that “the surest candidate to beat the representative of Macron is Michèle Picard, a legitimate candidate, from the field”. Thus denouncing the parachutings of the other candidates. The alliance, barely concluded, is already turned upside down.
“Anti-cop” candidate versus “pro-cop” candidate
La France Insoumise set fire to the powder by investing the militant journalist Taha Bouhafs, even before the agreements recently obtained with the other parties. An announcement that did not fail to make the entire political class react, reproaching the 25-year-old young man for his positions deemed “anti-cop” and his recent setbacks with the law. Already at this moment, the representatives of the Communist Party had raised questions about this parachuting which overshadows the candidacy of Michèle Picard, PCF mayor of Vénissieux.
“If this choice is confirmed, it means that LFI is ready not to play for the win”, regrets its campaign manager, Serge Truscello. He especially regrets the methods used by the party of Jean-Luc Mélenchon. “Already in 2017, the rebellious activists of Vénissieux, themselves, had asked that there be no candidate in front of Michèle Picard. National officials had not listened, this is not new to them, ”he criticizes.
In response to the Insoumis, Reconquête, the party of Eric Zemmour, entered the dance by nominating Bruno Attal candidate for the 14th district. Another media figure, “pro-cop”, police officer and national secretary of the France Police-Police union in anger, regular on the show’s set Do not touch My TV by Cyril Hanouna. Plateau on which he has already had to do with Taha Bouhafs. The skirmishes between the two candidates were quick to appear on social networks.
“These are folk candidacies”
Faced with all this agitation, it remains to be seen who will be the candidate of the presidential majority. Yves Blein, outgoing deputy LREM, observes the situation with desolation. “These applications are folkloric but not serious. They are completely out of step with the values of the Republic, ”he asserts about Taha Bouhafs and Bruno Attal. As for him, he declares “not to have made his decision” to run for a second term.
Contacted by 20 Minutes Lyon, France Insoumise did not respond to our requests.