French Legislative Election 2017

[Kringla Heimsins]

I don't view Macron as a traitor to 'my cause' as he's never been an advocate of 'my cause'.

He actually voted for Chevènement in 2002, which confuses me.

[Antonio the Sixth]

I don't view Macron as a traitor to 'my cause' as he's never been an advocate of 'my cause'.

He actually voted for Chevènement in 2002, which confuses me.

...seriously? That's hilarious.

[ApatheticAustrian]

I don't view Macron as a traitor to 'my cause' as he's never been an advocate of 'my cause'.

He actually voted for Chevènement in 2002, which confuses me.

...seriously? That's hilarious.

well, he was in his early 20ies, i guess you are still volatile at that point.

[Kringla Heimsins]

I don't view Macron as a traitor to 'my cause' as he's never been an advocate of 'my cause'.

He actually voted for Chevènement in 2002, which confuses me.

...seriously? That's hilarious.

https://www.marianne.net/politique/macron-ce-jeune-chevenementiste

Go figure.

[Tirnam]

Around 40 right-wing MPs (more than 20 LR, 18 UDI) will form their own group "les constructifs" in the National Assembly.

In the Senate some senators try to form an LREM group, but LR senators pro-Macron won't apparently secede from their group, but will form an "Les constructifs" movement inside the LR group. (Also half of the Senate will be renew next September).

[Zinneke]

Bayrou has left the government.

[Andrea]

PCF won't make a parliamentary group with FI. The FI-PCF split is 16-11 rather than 17-10 as indicated by Ministere de l'Interieur (they labelled a PCF as FI). PCF claim to have got 4 Outre-mer MPs to get the 15 required for a group.

[palandio]

PCF won't make a parliamentary group with FI. The FI-PCF split is 16-11 rather than 17-10 as indicated by Ministere de l'Interieur (they labelled a PCF as FI). PCF claim to have got 4 Outre-mer MPs to get the 15 required for a group.

Probably Bello (La Réunion 2), Azérot (Martinique 2), Nilor (Martinique 4) and Serville (Guyane 1).

[MAINEiac4434]

Why can't Melenchon play nice with the Communists?

Because he's an egotist.

It's not about the left-wing cause. It's about him. That's why.

[RodPresident]

PCF won't make a parliamentary group with FI. The FI-PCF split is 16-11 rather than 17-10 as indicated by Ministere de l'Interieur (they labelled a PCF as FI). PCF claim to have got 4 Outre-mer MPs to get the 15 required for a group.

Probably Bello (La Réunion 2), Azérot (Martinique 2), Nilor (Martinique 4) and Serville (Guyane 1).

There are 3 Corse Nationalists too.

[Kamala]

PCF won't make a parliamentary group with FI. The FI-PCF split is 16-11 rather than 17-10 as indicated by Ministere de l'Interieur (they labelled a PCF as FI). PCF claim to have got 4 Outre-mer MPs to get the 15 required for a group.

Probably Bello (La Réunion 2), Azérot (Martinique 2), Nilor (Martinique 4) and Serville (Guyane 1).

There are 3 Corse Nationalists too.

They're pro-EU, contrary to the PCF's positions.

[Antonio the Sixth]

I almost feel sad for Bayrou, honestly. This was supposed to be his 15 minutes of glory.

[Zinneke]

Why can't Melenchon play nice with the Communists?

Pierre Laurent endorsed Macron in the second round and Mélenchon took issue with it.

[Zanas]

Why can't Melenchon play nice with the Communists?

To be fair, the question can also exactly be asked in reverse.

Also, it's better they have two groups, that's twice the number of assisting positions, and they would have perpetually fought and eventually split rather sooner than later. And anyway, a 27-member group can't do much more than two 16-member and 15-member groups... They don't even have half a motion of no-confidence (58 seats needed) between them !

[parochial boy]

Why can't Melenchon play nice with the Communists?

To be fair, the question can also exactly be asked in reverse.

Also, it's better they have two groups, that's twice the number of assisting positions, and they would have perpetually fought and eventually split rather sooner than later. And anyway, a 27-member group can't do much more than two 16-member and 15-member groups... They don't even have half a motion of no-confidence (58 seats needed) between them !

You know, at some point the left is going to have to form some semblance of unity if it is to ever have power again

[brucejoel99]

Why can't Melenchon play nice with the Communists?

To be fair, the question can also exactly be asked in reverse.

Also, it's better they have two groups, that's twice the number of assisting positions, and they would have perpetually fought and eventually split rather sooner than later. And anyway, a 27-member group can't do much more than two 16-member and 15-member groups... They don't even have half a motion of no-confidence (58 seats needed) between them !

You know, at some point the left is going to have to form some semblance of unity if it is to ever have power again

Because he's an egotist.

It's not about the left-wing cause. It's about him. That's why.

[warandwar]

Why can't Melenchon play nice with the Communists?

To be fair, the question can also exactly be asked in reverse.

Also, it's better they have two groups, that's twice the number of assisting positions, and they would have perpetually fought and eventually split rather sooner than later. And anyway, a 27-member group can't do much more than two 16-member and 15-member groups... They don't even have half a motion of no-confidence (58 seats needed) between them !

You know, at some point the left is going to have to form some semblance of unity if it is to ever have power again

That unity is going to come from the street, not from the National Assembly. Key question is if they can build NuitDebout into a larger movement, not whether their groups merge or not.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Why can't Melenchon play nice with the Communists?

To be fair, the question can also exactly be asked in reverse.

Also, it's better they have two groups, that's twice the number of assisting positions, and they would have perpetually fought and eventually split rather sooner than later. And anyway, a 27-member group can't do much more than two 16-member and 15-member groups... They don't even have half a motion of no-confidence (58 seats needed) between them !

You know, at some point the left is going to have to form some semblance of unity if it is to ever have power again

That unity is going to come from the street, not from the National Assembly. Key question is if they can build NuitDebout into a larger movement, not whether their groups merge or not.

That still requires there to be a political force capable of capitalizing on a social movement like this. The PS doesn't seem like it can, while FI will always remain Mélenchon's personal vehicle.

[warandwar]

Why can't Melenchon play nice with the Communists?

To be fair, the question can also exactly be asked in reverse.

Also, it's better they have two groups, that's twice the number of assisting positions, and they would have perpetually fought and eventually split rather sooner than later. And anyway, a 27-member group can't do much more than two 16-member and 15-member groups... They don't even have half a motion of no-confidence (58 seats needed) between them !

You know, at some point the left is going to have to form some semblance of unity if it is to ever have power again

That unity is going to come from the street, not from the National Assembly. Key question is if they can build NuitDebout into a larger movement, not whether their groups merge or not.

That still requires there to be a political force capable of capitalizing on a social movement like this. The PS doesn't seem like it can, while FI will always remain Mélenchon's personal vehicle.

Fair enough. What I meant was that the motivation to form unity won't come from the National Assembly. If Nuit Debout is built into a larger movement, that's when the true test will be. At this point, it's better for there to be two separate groups, for the reasons Zanas said.

[Zuza]

Why can't Melenchon play nice with the Communists?

To be fair, the question can also exactly be asked in reverse.

Also, it's better they have two groups, that's twice the number of assisting positions, and they would have perpetually fought and eventually split rather sooner than later. And anyway, a 27-member group can't do much more than two 16-member and 15-member groups... They don't even have half a motion of no-confidence (58 seats needed) between them !

You know, at some point the left is going to have to form some semblance of unity if it is to ever have power again

That unity is going to come from the street, not from the National Assembly. Key question is if they can build NuitDebout into a larger movement, not whether their groups merge or not.

That still requires there to be a political force capable of capitalizing on a social movement like this. The PS doesn't seem like it can, while FI will always remain Mélenchon's personal vehicle.

And the problem with PCF, I guess, is that it still explicitly identifies as communist and/or is perceived by many as a relic of the past.

[Zinneke]

There is precedence of Left-wing unity. Mitterrand made everybody understand that the "Programme Commun" had to be led by the person who stood at the centre of the Left, in between the social liberals and the hard-line ML communists. I imagine the PCF thought Mélenchon would be a new Mitteramd rather than the unaccommodating bastard he is.

[Kringla Heimsins]

The fundamental problem is, imho, the link to the Nation. The PCF is historically internationalist and they tend to prefer referencing class struggle rather than French identity. Mélenchon has chosen the opposite way; his rallies were full of tricolor flags and he sung the Marseillaise with the crowd, something a PCF candidate would never do. Both are building their discourse around historical references; the Labor movement for the PCF, and the French Revolution for la France Insoumise.

Guess which strategy works best?

[Boston Bread]

Guess which strategy works best?

Not sure what you mean... are you referring to Melenchon's FI having more seats in the legislatives?
Not that I care about which of these strategies to take, since the main reason I'd consider FI or PCF is to strategically defeat PS centrists, LREM or the right.

[Kringla Heimsins]

Guess which strategy works best?

Not sure what you mean... are you referring to Melenchon's FI having more seats in the legislatives?
Not that I care about which of these strategies to take, since the main reason I'd consider FI or PCF is to strategically defeat PS centrists, LREM or the right.

I'm referring to Mélenchon getting a record-high share of the vote for a far-left candidate in a presidential election since 1969, and FI getting five times more votes in the legislative elections.

[Antonio the Sixth]

There is precedence of Left-wing unity. Mitterrand made everybody understand that the "Programme Commun" had to be led by the person who stood at the centre of the Left, in between the social liberals and the hard-line ML communists. I imagine the PCF thought Mélenchon would be a new Mitteramd rather than the unaccommodating bastard he is.

Yeah, more like the new Marchais.