While the European elections are being held from June 6 to 9, RFI followed two leading candidates with opposing European ideas: the social democrat Raphaël Glucksmann and the communist Léon Deffontaines.
Léon Deffontaines warms his voice in front of the 300 communist activists gathered in Belfort. To motivate the troops, he brings up old memories, proclaiming: “ Yes, the 2005 referendum was a class vote! » The head of the communist list for the next European elections was only nine years old during the referendum on the European Constitution, but another speaker, present that day in Belfort, was on the front line…
Former socialist minister Arnaud Montebourg, figure of the “no” to the European constitutional treaty, is categorical. According to him, the equation is simple: more Europe means more layoffs, particularly in this historic automobile territory where 10,000 jobs could be threatened. “ L’European Union has made decisions to eliminate thermal vehicles in 2035. Here, the equipment manufacturers [automobiles, NDLR] are now losing market share… Europe is a sieve, it is strategically incapable of making the right decisionss,” he says.
Once is not usual: at each European election, division resurfaces on the left. The one which opposes a more sovereignist conception of the union and another more federalist one, pleading for more powers granted to European authorities. This year, this old schism regained strength in the campaign of both parties with the implosion of Nupes. “ On the left, there are two real alternatives on the European projectschematizes Léon Deffontaines. We, who criticize the European treaties, and Raphaël Glucksmann, who defends this Europe from the winners of globalization, denying the fact that this Europe has favored the closure of public services, deindustrialization… »
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Precisely, a few days later, Raphaël Glucksmann, head of the PS-Place publique list, came to speak on social issues in Saint-Ouen, in the Paris region, and reassure: for him, the European Union is the right scale to be better protected. “ When we have a problem, we believe that it is Europe’s fault. When there is a great achievement, on the other hand, no one says that it is thanks to Europe. We must show that Europe is a protection framework, that it protects our industries and our jobs “, he explains.
Above all, according to Karim Bouamrane, socialist mayor of Saint-Ouen and long close to the communists, the old division on the left no longer seems relevant. “ Do you think that, when Raphaël Glucksmann travels around the four corners of France, we talk to him about the 2005 treaty and the differences that there could be between the Socialist Party and the rest of the left? No, we’re talking about purchasing power! This is why Raphaël Glucksmann attracts », he analyzes.
An analysis that appears to confirm the voting intentions: more than 20% combined for the socialists and ecologists, barely 10% for the communists and rebels. Nina is a local PCF representative and she despairs of this feedback from the field. But, according to her, the motivations are not ideological: “ Many tell me they are blocking the RN… » Voters in favor of useful voting. Cumulatively, the voting intentions for the parties of the ex-Nupes are struggling to reach 30%… Lower, therefore, than those of the National Rally alone.
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