The French Communist Party proposed the name of Huguette Bello to become Prime Minister, this Friday, July 12, while negotiations are stalling. Several political figures have reacted to the suggestion.
What if Huguette Bello were the left’s candidate to run for Prime Minister? This is in any case what the Communist Party is proposing, this Friday, July 12, according to information from theHumanityCurrently president of the regional council of La Réunion, she was a member of parliament from 1997 to 2020. At the age of 73, Huguette Bello could create a consensus within the New Popular Front: she does not claim to be part of La France Insoumise but supported Jean-Luc Mélenchon in the 2022 presidential election, and was in last position on the LFI list for the European elections.
Furthermore, her CV would make her a personality with enough experience to become Prime Minister: she has been mayor, member of parliament, and now regional president. “She knows Parliament. Her authority is respected. And above all, she is president of a region that is going through major difficulties in terms of public service, housing, job insecurity (…) She would have this ability to build majorities and speak with the President of the Republic”, according to Fabien Roussel, national secretary of the PCF. “We are really in favour of exploring the Huguette Bello track. She has all the assets. A woman, overseas, experience, local elected official, parliamentarian for twenty-three years, a lot of authority. This will allow us to get out of the sterile deadlock of the last few days” added a Communist Party official indicating to franceinfo : “It was proposed by Fabien Roussel, La France Insoumise seems in favor of it.”
It is “a very good name”, confirmed the rebellious Antoine Léaument. Jean-Luc Mélenchon would also have approved this choice, as would the Ecologists, according to l’Humanité. Could Huguette Bello achieve consensus even within the central bloc? “Beyond the political debates or political differences that may exist, Huguette Bello is a great republican”, Gabriel Attal said about her, during a trip to Réunion.
The Socialist Party is against it
The Socialist Party, on the other hand, would be opposed to the designation of Huguette Bello as a candidate for Matignon, because it supports the candidacies of Oliver Faure and Johanna Rolland. Luc Carvounas “does not imagine the NFP validating this candidacy”, because Huguette Bello “did not vote for marriage for all when she was a deputy”. Absent during the session, the communist nevertheless celebrated the first gay marriage in Reunion and signed a platform against homophobia in 2018.
In the meantime, Manuel Bompard assured this Friday, July 12, that he “will not set any deadlines” for the choice of a Prime Minister. But the NFP’s decision should be made public before July 18, the day of the election of the President of the National Assembly.