Communists have acclaimed at more than 80 % the orientation text of the management, largely preferred to the alternative text, holding a more unionist line. Fabien Roussel praised a “clear choice”.
by Julie Carriat
In pure contrast to the uncertainties experienced in recent days by the socialists, the Communists have given, Sunday January 29, a score without ambiguity to the leadership of the French Communist Party (PCF), for the first stage of its 39 E Congress, scheduled from April 7 to 10 in Marseille. Two orientation texts were offered to the vote in the local sections since Friday, that of the management led by Fabien Roussel and an alternative text signed by former party leaders (Pierre Laurent, Marie-Georges Buffet) but also the trend ” Unionist “and anxious to update the fights of the PCF, carried in particular by the deputy of Hauts-de-Seine, Elsa Faucillon.
The first was adopted at 81.92 %, the second brought together 18.08 % of the vote, in a ballot with nearly 30,000 voters and 42,000 registered. Fabien Roussel, evoking the “democratic vitality” of the party, praised in a speech to the activists “a clear, massive, strong, determined choice”. “The Communist Party stands out as an important and essential political force,” he said, promising a renewed mobilization in the “decisive social battle for the future of the country” against pension reform.
“plebiscite”
For Ian Brossat, right -hand man of the national secretary, this vote acts an “plebiscite” of his visibility strategy. “The Communists are very happy with the evolution of their party and satisfied with the work carried out by Fabien Roussel, he has given air, pride.” In recent weeks, by organizing a unitary meeting in January against the reform of Pensions, the Northern MP – who does not miss an opportunity to distinguish himself from Jean -Luc Mélenchon – had taken the trouble to extinguish the criticisms in isolationism formulated against him. “For communists to vote against their management, it is really necessary to dissatisfaction”, analyzes a member of the National Council.
Only a handful of federations have placed the alternative text in mind, including the substantial Seine-Saint-Denis (54 % for the text), but also the Bas-Rhin and the Yonne. Nathalie Simonnet, departmental secretary of the PCF in Seine-Saint-Denis, “takes note of the score”, and plans to continue to register “in a process of amendment and construction”, while regretting “the short time left to discussion “. It notes “a lot of satisfaction with the fact that Roussel appears in the media and that it restores visibility to the party”. According to her, “many communists think that it is an important element and that we must continue.” This is what the North MP plans to do.