A few hours after the ratification by the National Council of the PS of the agreement with LFI, EELV and the PCF, the president of the Occitanie region takes note of her minority position in the bodies of the party. Reaffirming her opposition to what she considers to be “a liquidation of the PS”, Carole Delga announces her intention to bring together activists who share her vision, then to organize general assemblies of the Republican left this summer.
How do you welcome the vote of the National Council of the PS which validates the electoral agreement with La France insoumise?
I remain resolutely opposed to this agreement, to the negation of our values and our socialist project and I take note – that to date – I am in the minority in the party.
Reading this result, do you plan to leave the PS?
I am deeply socialist and I consider that I still have my place in this party that needs to be transformed. I am no less a socialist than Olivier Faure. I will therefore continue to work with all the activists and sympathizers who share my ideas and show me their support. Obviously, I will carry a different vision from that of the party leadership.
“I am no less a socialist than Olivier Faure,
I will not leave the party”
How do you then see the future of the PS and what role do you intend to play?
Initially, I will soon gather all these people who do not accept the liquidation of the PS.
Should we conclude that you could present a motion at the next PS congress?
My roadmap is clear and precise: first of all, bring together all those who, like me, cannot resolve to destroy the socialist heritage, the work accomplished by activists, local and national elected to defend and promote our values; Then devote all my energy so that a maximum of left-wing candidates win the legislative elections and can constitute a strong opposition to the policy of Emmanuel Macron; And finally, to bring together this summer the States General of the Republican, European and Ecological Left in France because I do indeed think that a large gathering is necessary, but on clear bases. This is also what the people on the left are demanding who, by rejecting this agreement, are saying ‘no’ to compromises, ‘no’ to omissions on major subjects such as the European question, Ukraine, secularism, the fight against communitarianism, the relationship with the company or living together. Do we want a society of confrontation, disobedience, violence, rupture, or do we rather want a progressive society, ambitious on the sharing of wealth and united? These are the topics we will have to talk about…
Will the meeting be fixed in Occitania?
The place doesn’t matter and I haven’t thought about it yet. What counts are the stated principles and the bases which must be clear and solid because what is taking shape is a movement of rallying and unity of the Republican left. I am convinced of this and it must therefore be done with seriousness, sincerity and consistency. All those who, on the left, want to participate in a new momentum will be welcome.
“Today’s political leaders are mainly concerned with their little electoral accounting and not enough with the accounting for the difficult end of the month”
Do we see appearing in broad strokes in your comments the outline of a new party?
We must get out of this logic of deadly chapels. First of all, you have to work on ideas. The framework, the legal structuring, all that comes next, it is not the most important. Let’s talk about the project for people’s lives first. This is what guides my commitment, and this is why I do politics. The injustices of our society, the environmental dangers do not really find an answer and as far as we are concerned, the explanation is obvious: the left and the PS did not work, and the French severely punished us by the ballot boxes presidential! My priority is therefore to bring together this republican, ecological, European left. Let’s work on an ambitious social project, a new social contract, and then we’ll see what this dynamic leads to. Let’s be humble. I am opposed to this policy of personalization and I want to say it clearly: the objective is not to create a party in the service of Carole Delga, whereas in truth, the 17 million French people who have turned away from polls reproach us for not talking enough about them and for not working enough for them. Today’s political leaders are mainly concerned with their little electoral accounting and not enough with the accounting for the difficult end of the month.
Let’s go back to the LFI / PS agreement? Should the activists be consulted?
It was obviously essential, because it is a major change of political line. The timing imposed by La France insoumise did not allow it, I regret it, and it is also for this reason that I am going to bring together and give the floor to all those who refuse the liquidation of the Socialist Party. Let’s be honest, moreover, about the nature of this agreement which is not applicable, as everyone must reasonably agree. It has only two objectives: the first is purely electoral, that is to say how we share the constituencies and the places in the Assembly. The second is strategic, since it consists in appointing Jean-Luc Mélenchon as the only opponent on the left to Emmanuel Macron. But I warn these gentlemen: I am also a leftist opponent of Emmanuel Macron, they can count on me!
“I can already hear the threats aimed at possible dissident candidates. It is the leadership of the PS that has created this incomprehensible situation”
Of the 49 constituencies in Occitania, 6 were allocated to the PS according to the agreement reached. Do you encourage disappointed socialist candidates to dissent?
I reject this term dissidence. Socialist activists from Occitania have worked with sincerity and selflessness for the party and do not accept the decision of the national leadership. Some do not exclude, in fact, to present themselves. I can already hear the threats aimed at potential “dissident” candidates. It is the leadership of the PS that has created this incomprehensible situation. How can you explain that no socialist candidate can stand in Hérault? How can we explain that the Tarn, department of Jaurès, has zero PS candidates? The party leadership created this situation of injustice, it is up to them to resolve it. He has 15 days left until May 20, the deadline for submitting applications…