Recently cited by the French as a possible minister at Matignon, François Ruffin is now one of the LFI dissidents wishing to create a new group in the National Assembly.
Re-elected as a member of parliament in the 1st constituency of the Somme following the early legislative elections, François Ruffin is one of the serious candidates for the post of Prime Minister in a left-wing government. “Four weeks ago, in sorrow, on the edge of the ravine, we had a left in pieces. So, we threw to the parties “be united”, we threw to the parties “popular front”, as if to warm ourselves in the fire of our history, and, like our elders of 1936, we came out on top (…) And this evening hope is reborn” he declared after the vote and his victory.
If François Ruffin says he is “ready” to take the place that we want to give him, he is also one of the former rebels who sent a letter on Tuesday July 9 to certain parties of the New Popular Front (PCF, EELV, Générations) to create a group “rivaling LFI and the PS in the National Assembly” BFMTV tells us. With him, within the group of the “purged”, the LFI dissidents: Clémentine Autain, Alexis Corbière, Hendrick Davi and Danielle Simonnet. “As you know, the break between us and LFI is complete. We will not sit in the rebel group” the letter first indicates according to the information from the media. “Deeply attached to the unitary dynamic and to the NFP rich in its diversity, we aspire to sit in a new group, associating ecologists, communists, members of Générations and us” we can also read. The opportunity for François Ruffin to gain even more depth within this hypothetical new entity, and to join Matignon? Answer in the coming days, or even in the coming weeks.
François Ruffin among the French favorites for the post of Prime Minister
If since the creation of the New Popular Front, its members have been harassed by the same question: who would be their candidate for the post of Prime Minister? Some left-wing figures have said they are “ready” and “capable” of assuming the responsibility of head of government: among the rebels, Francois Ruffin and Clémentine Autain opened this door, while Jean-Luc Mélenchon has several times proposed Manuel Bompard, Mathilde Panot or even Clémence Guetté. But now that the party has closed the door to any coalition going beyond the left, the presence of these personalities in the next government is losing credibility. However, François Ruffin appears as a figure capable of uniting around him, much less divisive than Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
Furthermore, according to a CSA poll for CNews, Europe 1, and the JDD, François Ruffin appears to be in a good position to occupy the post according to the French. Indeed, to the question “who do you want as Prime Minister”, 7% of those surveyed answered François Ruffin. This makes the former rebel the third political figure cited to occupy the post, behind Gabriel Attal (14%) and Jordan Bardella (16%). François Ruffin is ahead of many potential left-wing candidates for Matignon. Raphael Glucksmann (6%), Jean-Luc Mélenchon (5%), and François Hollande (4%), among others.
“I am ready to take the place that is wanted to transform people’s lives”
François Ruffin had already expressed some inclinations in the event of a positive result for the New Popular Front in this legislative election. He did not hesitate to say he was ready to become Prime Minister: “If ever there is a consensus that should result in a name, I am ready to take the place that we want to transform people’s lives” on France Bleu Picardie. The one who is part of Picardy Stand Up! also seemed tempted by the position of Minister of Sports: “If ever in the history of our country, whatever position I may occupy, if it is at Matignon as Prime Minister, why not. But if it is as Minister of Sports and I manage to provide sport for all, for all the children of our country, I will be proud of it,” he added.