The head of the socialist list in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem. – Tristan Reynaud / SIPA
The Communists of the Allier confirmed this Saturday their dissent and their rallying to the “Alternative” list led by the former socialist minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem for the regional elections in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. “In the Allier, we know that the left wins only when it is assembled”, indicated the federal departmental secretary of the PCF Yannick Monnet, appearing alongside the candidate at a press conference in Lyon .
Communists and Socialists “are used to working together”, noted the one who presented himself as “municipal councilor of Moulins”, a city – he said with a smile to Najat Vallaud-Belkacem – “that you know good “. The elected was alluding to the recent blackout of Najat Vallaud-Belkacem who, on a TV set, had not been able to quote the name of the Allier prefecture. In the rest of the region, the Communists are allied with La France insoumise within a list led by the PCF senator of the Loire Cécile Cukierman.
“This is not an individual adventure”
In a press release announcing their decision last week, the Communists of Allier noted that the federations of Puy-de-Dôme and Cantal had taken a similar decision in a first ballot. Those of the Allier confirmed their choice by a second vote, by a large majority (85% of “yes”, with a participation of 68.5%). A “historic” and “courageous” choice within a party “which is used to being disciplined”, commented Yannick Monnet.
As soon as this decision was known, Cécile Cukierman had ruled that a regional campaign was not limited to “the satisfaction of an ego” and threatened the dissidents with eviction. “This is not an individual adventure,” Najat Vallaud-Belkacem replied on Saturday. “It is an entire federation which took this decision with a very large majority”. She also “took note” that the “very open and balanced” proposals made to other left parties, including environmentalists, have not received a response and announced that the time had now come to campaign.
The Alternative will communicate on May 3 the names of all its candidates for the June ballot, said its co-campaign manager Jean-François Debat.