“Pascal Praud votes.
And you ?
» On social networks, La France insoumise calls for people to register on the electoral lists for the European elections, taking as a counter-example political adversaries (Éric Ciotti, Manuel Valls), editorialists with whom it has often had disagreements starting on television sets (Nathalie Saint-Cricq, Pascal Praud, Christophe Barbier) or even big bosses regularly targeted by the left (Patrick Pouyanné, Bernard Arnault or Vincent Bolloré).
In short, people with opinions presumed to be contrary to those of the Insoumis.
“These are people who are identified as supporters of the dominant ideology and the established order.
And we want to overthrow the established order,” Manuel Bompard, coordinator of the movement, justified himself on Saturday, highlighting the “humor” and “provocation” of the campaign.
In the same spirit, online messages and leaflets also targeted a month ago the “rich”, “racists” and “golfers”, who would also vote.
“They are public figures”
But the use of Nathalie Saint-Cricq's face and name was seen as one attack too many for a movement which already maintains often conflicting relations with the press.
Delphine Ernotte Cunci, the boss of France TV, denounced “political attacks against journalists who freely exercise their profession”.
Her group announced that Nathalie Saint-Cricq had taken legal action, in the name of image rights, due to the use of her photo.
The France TV editorialist finds LFI's methods “quite distressing”.
Also read: An “unprecedented media raid”: LFI files 21 reports before Arcom, notably against CNews
“They are public figures,” says Manuel Bompard, who claims to have taken “legal advice” before launching this campaign, imagined with deputies Antoine Léaument and Sarah Legrain.
“It’s provoking to send a message and talk about the lack of public campaign” for registration on the electoral lists, he assures, defending himself from any insult and instead highlighting “a certain skill” of his training.
Already 600 new members
On his blog, Antoine Léaument is satisfied that the “media bourgeoisie” has “fallen for the trick”.
Because now, “everyone is talking about registering to vote.”
From Saint-Cricq to Gaza: the varying indignations of the bourgeoisie
- New blog notehttps://t.co/mCVcYnKFLv
— Antoine Léaument 🇫🇷🌿 (@ALeaument) March 2, 2024
In their messages, the Insoumis invite citizens to check their electoral situation on a site, where they can also, if they wish, join the movement in one click.
And “of the first 11,000 people who checked their situation, 600 joined LFI,” assures Manuel Bompard.
For several years, the Insoumis have been trying to convince abstainers to go to the polls, convinced that they are the key to progress in the elections and to reach the second round of the presidential election, which Jean-Luc Mélenchon missed by 400,000 votes in 2022 .
“In the last presidential election, several hundred thousand people went to the polling station on voting day and realized that they had been removed” from the lists, says Manuel Bompard.
Make registration on lists automatic
The European elections are not the vote that is most successful for the Insoumis.
So they launched this provocative campaign to try to bring abstainers back to the voting booth.
“It’s going to be complicated,” MP Éric Coquerel explained two months ago.
“The popular part of our electorate rarely travels.”
“The rich are going to vote in the European elections: young people and working-class neighborhoods need to mobilize,” says the head of the LFI list, Manon Aubry.
Read alsoEuropean elections: Manon Aubry, the rebels’ choice of reason
The movement therefore intends to continue its “So-and-so votes” campaign.
And you ?
» and will soon submit a bill to make registration on the lists automatic, indicates Manuel Bompard.
A meeting with golfers, after the French Golf Federation had protested about having been “equated” with the rich and racists, is also planned.