If "the war is too serious a matter to leave it in the hands of the military", as Georges Clemenceau said, is it the same for politics and politicians and more particularly the Ile-de-France left?
Would the egos not be so strong that they would quite simply have prevented, unlike other regions, an alliance from the first round?
The question needs to be asked.
So, of course, each of the three left-wing candidates - Clémentine Autain (LFI-PCF), Julien Bayou (EELV), Audrey Pulvar (SE) - will tell you that his program is the “best” and that, if he chose to appear in front of the voters, it is to defend a vision of the Île-de-France which is specific to it.
Even if they recognize each other, lip service, common points on themes, and in particular on one: ecology.
Because on the left - but also at LREM and even at the president-candidate Valérie Pécresse -, it is the magic word.
The one who must convince Ile-de-France residents to come on June 20 to deposit the “good” ballot in the ballot box.
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Indeed, all have in mind this Sunday of the first round.
Because, and this is where the trick lies, everyone dreams of being the leader of the left that evening.
“We are already separated but not dispersed, and simply not yet reunited, immediately specifies Julien Bayou, the national secretary of EELV and head of the list in Île-de-France.
With Clémentine and Audrey, we can win.
"And to continue:" I think that ecology will bring together and that it is able to seek the broadest adhesion.
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Leader of the opposition in the polls, Bayou poses as a unifier
The polls put him at the top of the trio in voting intentions. Logically, Julien Bayou therefore sees himself in the role of unifier for the second round and potential winning president to steal the seat of Valérie Pécresse. “There have always been several lists on the left. Afterwards, the environmentalists wanted to count themselves and have a showdown, I regret it, but that's how it is. For us, in any case, there is no doubt about the merger of the lists for the second round, ”says Emmanuelle Cosse, elected ecologist at the regional council since 2010 and former head of the EELV list in 2015.
A vision shared by Clémentine Autain.
“What has hurt us already is that the PS
(Editor's note: Audrey Pulvar)
has gone from 25% to 10%.
It is a vertiginous fall, explains the LFI-PCF flag bearer for this election.
Since the fall, I have been talking about union and coming together.
Our profiles in Julien, Audrey and I facilitate discussions.
There is sympathy and benevolence between us.
If I am in the lead on June 20, I will put all my strength into building the rally.
"
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Audrey Pulvar, who had a delicate start to the campaign under the Île-de-France en commun banner, also imagines herself as a unifying president.
She had no illusions about an alliance with rebellious France from the first round.
On the other hand, she thought she was going to find a way with the environmentalists.
“I have really good relations with Julien Bayou and Clémentine Autain, even if we sometimes have points of divergence,” she underlines.
Doesn't she fear that these three lists will give Valérie Pécresse an advantage?
“At least, with three lists, our ideas set the pace for this campaign,” she says.
As to who will lead the union list in the second round, she concludes: “I am not asking myself the question of whom but of what we will carry in common.
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Key figures in Ile-de-France
Number of departments:
8
Number of inhabitants:
12,244,807
Unemployment rate:
7.7% (of the active population in Q4 2020)
GDP per capita (in 2018):
58,922 euros
Abstention in 2015 in the 1st round:
54.1%
Abstention in 2015 in the 2nd round:
45.5%
