“Renewal” or “purge”? The designation of the new direction of La France insoumise revolts several figures such as Clémentine Autain, François Ruffin or Raquel Garrido, who point to the absence of internal democracy. Critics swept away by Jean-Luc Mélenchon. In the new coordination of the movement announced this weekend, made up of 21 executives and which Manuel Bompard will lead, the deputies Clémentine Autain, Eric Coquerel, Alexis Corbière, François Ruffin, nor even Raquel Garrido do not appear – i.e. five of the rebellious more media and popular.
Other parliamentarians are part of the management, but they represent a younger generation: Antoine Léaument, Manon Aubry, Marina Mesure, Paul Vannier… “The withdrawal and the lockdown were assumed in a brutal way”, denounces Clémentine Autain in an interview at Liberation, underlining a “marginalization of those who have a different voice from the current ruling core”. The one who had already advocated reforms this summer asks to “democratize LFI: a force with a majority vocation cannot be a monolithic block”.
“Silencing Criticism”
François Ruffin also said he was “sad that rather than an enlargement, we have a contraction”, he who had decided to shake up his solitary habits by applying for the coordination of LFI. As it stands, it is a “consensus of a small group which agreed with itself”, he regretted. “The mission was to move from a very effective presidential-oriented structure to a real party over the long term, capable of existing and winning victories outside the presidential election” but “the door was closed to militants”, abounds Raquel Garrido. Who warns: “Let them not think for a second that we will let ourselves be done. »
LFI has regularly experienced similar shocks since its creation in 2016. In question, the mode of designation. While the other Nupes parties have immersed themselves in congresses to elect their new leaders, LFI proceeds by “consensus” of the executives present at the meeting. Or, as Clémentine Autain puts it, “by cooptation, which favors courtiers and helps to silence criticism”. “Expelling those who do not agree from the table is not called a consensus”, storms Raquel Garrido.
“Now it’s clear, that means Jean-Luc Mélenchon 2027”
Even the deputy Eric Coquerel, faithful lieutenant of Jean-Luc Mélenchon, pleads so that “be represented in the direction all the nuance of the movement”, not saying against, in the future, internal elections. Jean-Luc Mélenchon came out of his official posture “withdrawn” to sweep the criticism, on his blog: “To distinguish oneself, as much to shine in action and speaking out without feeling obliged to denigrate others or to make life together impossible through press confidences”.
It assumes a “renewal”: “The appointees are appointed by the active members of the ‘spaces’ (management sectors). All of them have earned their stripes in action and their participation in the collective effort since 2017”. An elected official criticizes a “purge” in private: “Now it’s clear, that means Jean-Luc Mélenchon 2027”, contrary to what the tribune had wanted after his third presidential election: to be “replaced”. As for Manuel Bompard, “one without the legitimacy of the other (Jean-Luc Mélenchon) is one among others”, criticizes another rebellious figure.