European Election 2014 - France

[Devonian]

The Socialist Party has published its list of lead candidates for the European elections

The French Socialist Party (PS) has named its leading candidates for the European Parliament elections.

A meeting of the party’s National Council heard the following proposals for seven of the eight French constituencies (candidates for the ‘overseas’ constituency will be debated at a future meeting):

North West: list headed by Gilles Pargneaux MEP, followed by Claude Roiron and Jean-Louis Cottigny MEP

West: list headed by Isabelle Thomas MEP, followed by Emmanuel Maurel and Françoise Mesnard

East: list headed by Catherine Trautmann MEP, followed by Pierre Priebetich

South West: list to be headed by a woman from the Radical Party of the Left (PRG), followed by PS MEP Eric Andrieu

South East: list headed by France’s education minister, Vincent Peillon, followed by Sylvie Guillaume MEP and Zaiki Laïdi

Massif central – Centre: list headed by Jean-Paul Denanot, President of the Regional Council in Limousin, followed by Karine Gloannec-Maurin

Ile-de-France: list headed by Harlem Désir MEP, the PS leader, followed by Pervenche Bérès MEP and Guillaume Balas

The PS announced that its lists would be opened up to to possible candidacies from civil society.

During a debate on the proposals, some members questioned the lists, suggesting that it would be difficult to mobilise PS members in favour of non-PS candidates, or disagreeing with the order of candidates put forward by the party. However, the proposals were approved by 103 votes to 27.

The lists will now be put to a vote by the PS membership, with the final lists confirmed by a national convention on 7 December.

europedecides.eu/2013/11/french-socialists-name-leading-candidates/

[Devonian]

Not everyone in the PS is happy about the candidates

Élections européennes : les militants désabusés par les manœuvres du PS

Dans plusieurs régions, les fédérations locales du Parti socialiste se retrouvent à défendre des candidats contestés. Certaines menacent de ne pas faire campagne, d’autres ne cachent pas leur embarras.

Le premier secrétaire du PS peut bien rempiler à Bruxelles tout en affichant le taux de présence le plus bas de la délégation socialiste française. Et le ministre de l’Education se présenter dans le Sud-Est sans avoir l’intention de siéger.
Une fronde, pas de révolution

Lorsqu’ils font le bilan des victimes et des rescapés des listes pour les élections de mai 2014, les eurodéputés socialistes restent stoïques. Critiquer le fonctionnement interne du parti ? Pas devant la presse.

A force, le PS ne renvoie-t-il pas l’image d’un parti qui trahit ses convictions européennes et prend le risque de mépriser ses électeurs ?

« Pourquoi posez-vous cette question ? » lâche Isabelle Thomas, glaciale.

Reconduite grâce au double soutien de Jean-Yves Le Drian et Benoît Hamon, l’eurodéputée bretonne emmène une liste controversée. Dans l’Ouest, l’arrivée du Francilien Emmanuel Maurel, placé en deuxième position pour ménager l’aile gauche du parti, au détriment des candidats locaux, nourrit le ressentiment.

Des foyers de contestation sont nés dans le Finistère, où la liste a été rejetée à 83 %, ainsi que dans la Sarthe, où le vote a été plus serré (186 voix contre, 113 pour). Pas de quoi révolutionner le paysage politique : au total, la liste a été entérinée sans encombre.

« C’est le jeu démocratique », remarque le conseiller municipal de Quimper Karim Ghachem, pas tout à fait satisfait de l’envoi tardif de la liste. La plupart des militants l’ont découverte la veille du vote, « pour ceux qui ont des mails ».

En Paca, où la neige dans le nord de la région a conduit certains bureaux à reporter le vote, on ne comprend pas la relégation du candidat local, Christophe Masse, en position inéligible. Le même scénario s’était déjà produit en 2009. D’où le mécontentement d’un secrétaire fédéral :

« La liste ne correspond pas aux attentes. On se demande à quoi a servi la réunion avec Alain Fontanel, qui nous a fait déplacer à Marseille le 7 novembre pour connaître nos desiderata. »

Mercato solférinien

Manuel Valls est parvenu à placer un proche, Zaki Laïdi, en troisième position, quand la quatrième place a été attribuée à Emmanuelle de Gentili, « qui n’avait pas candidaté », croit savoir le même responsable. Originaire de Corse, cette quadragénaire est en lice pour les municipales à Bastia.

Dans ce mercato très solférinien, la présence de Vincent Peillon comme « tête d’affiche » aurait-elle le mérite de mobiliser les électeurs, connus pour bouder massivement les urnes européennes ? Un élu des Alpes de Haute-Provence n’y croit pas :

« Mettre un ministre comme tête de liste, je pense que ça ne marche plus. Les gens regardent plutôt ce qu’on va leur proposer. Et mettre un ministre en difficulté n’est pas la meilleure des choses à faire. Dans nos communes rurales, le dossier des rythmes scolaires fait débat. »

Colère et incompréhension

Dans la circonscription du Sud-Ouest, la tension est à son comble et les fédérations ont fait bloc contre l’innovation concoctée par Solférino : voter pour une liste emmenée par une personnalité issue des radicaux de gauche, dont l’identité est inconnue, si ce n’est le sexe, féminin.

Sur place, les socialistes ont peu apprécié la charade et la direction du PS a été invitée à proposer une nouvelle combinaison.

L’eurodéputé Eric Andrieu a les faveurs des militants, mais lui donner la tête de liste constituerait une nouvelle concession au profit de Vincent Peillon, dont il est proche.

Sentant son accord électoral avec le PS menacé, le patron des radicaux, Jean-Michel Baylet, a riposté par un communiqué véhément, brandissant le risque d’ « une crise politique majeure » qui l’amènerait à s’adresser « au Président de la République lui-même ».

Dans les fédérations socialistes, la colère se mêle à l’incompréhension : « Les radicaux ne pèsent rien aux élections et on n’arrête pas de leur faire des cadeaux », s’agace un responsable, qui comprend encore moins que la figure de Béatrice Patrie soit évoquée pour emmener la liste.

Cette ex-députée européenne, juge de formation, a rallié les radicaux l’an dernier après avoir été exclue du PS pour « dissidence ». « Et on la récompenserait en la mettant tête de liste ? » s’étrangle un militant.
« Le PS glapit qu’il est un parti européen ( …) ce n’est pas le cas »

Le sort de la liste du Sud-Ouest sera tranché début décembre. Les fédérations locales n’auront pas nécessairement à la voter, car le bureau national du PS a le pouvoir d’arbitrer lui-même les cas litigieux.

Si aucune solution n’est trouvée, « on sera tentés de ne pas faire campagne », prévient-on dans un bureau socialiste, où l’on s’interroge sur le traitement des affaires européennes au sein du parti :

« Depuis 20 ans, on nous dit que l’Europe sociale est notre cheval de bataille. Que met-on dedans ? On ne sait pas. On attend toujours la plateforme promise lors de la Convention sur l’Europe. Le PS glapit qu’il est un parti européen, il suffit de voir son organisation pour se rendre compte que ce n’est pas le cas. D’ailleurs, le secrétaire national aux affaires européennes est celui qui s’occupe de l’international. Conceptuellement, c’est un problème. »

www.contexte.com/article/elections-europeennes-2014/elections-europeennes-les-militants-desabuses-par-les-manuvres-du-ps.html

[Devonian]

France's two main centrist parties, the UDI and the MoDem, announced a new alliance on Tuesday (5 November), with an eye on next year's European elections.

François Bayrou, of the Democratic Movement (MoDem) and Jean-Louis Borloo, of the Union of Democrats and Independents (UDI), the two party leaders, unveiled an alliance named 'The Alternative' in Paris yesterday (5 November).

The two politicians go back a long way. They were both members of the now defunct centrist Union for French Democracy (UDF), which lasted until 2007, when the UDF was replaced by Bayrou’s MoDem and Borloo founded his own party after participating in Nicolas Sarkozy’s centre-right government.

In August this year, the UDI leader contacted Bayrou proposing to join forces to strengthen the French political centre.

“The first thing that brings us together is Europe,” the two leaders said yesterday at the launch of 'The Alternative'.

And even though the term “Alternative” calls to mind the German “Alternative für Deutschland”, a far-right party opposed to the euro currency, Jean-Louis Borloo would rather think of the new alliance as “an alternative to the far-right, to the despair”.

“We offer an alternative to the political impotence and believe we can make a difference,” Borloo said.

Focus on the EU elections

The first important step for the new alliance will be the European elections in May next year. 'The Alternative' will propose common candidates for all elections – regional, national, European –, except the local election, which takes place in March.

'The Alternative' will present single candidates for the regional, national and European elections but not the local election, which takes place in March.

“We are convinced that we need a new way of thinking about Europe, an affectionate way of thinking,” the two leaders said.

Borloo stressed the importance of France’s participation in the EU. “There are things that France can do but some are more difficult, like climate, energy, tax havens, and that’s why Europe is here”.

“There is an immense need to renew the European ideal. Europe is the only available way to authentic sovereignty,” Bayrou said.

Together, the two parties have 11 MEPs in the European Parliament, while the French Socialist majority has 14. But at EU level, the UDI is a member of the European People's Party (EPP), while MoDem is linked to the liberal ALDE group.

It is not yet clear which European Parliament group the new alliance will join after next year's EU election. Both the EPP and ALDE leaders have issued statements inviting the new centrist alliance to join their political formation (see Positions below).

Jean Arthuis, a French senator from the UDI, suggested that his party could leave the EPP and join the ALDE, which has followed a more federalist European agenda under the leadership of former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt.

Bayrou stood behind the Socialist François Hollande at the last presidential elections in 2012, a marked difference with Borloo's UDI.

Their common charter, signed on Tuesday, says that 'The Alternative' is a natural partner of the Republican right, "in respect of humanist values”.

The UMP, led by Jean-François Copé, openly flirts with the far-right’s electorate, however.

The charter also stipulates that “an alliance with the Socialist Party is impossible” but that the “broad reformist majority” that they believe France needs, could “open up to the Green and Socialist-Democrat sensitivities”.

The Alternative has some 100,000 members, 70 national MPs and 11 MEPs. They have some 4,500 local representatives, over which they do not yet appear ready to compromise.
Positions:

Guy Verhofstadt, president of the Liberal ALDE group in the European Parliament, welcomed the new alliance.

“Such an alliance, which I have called for since the last presidential elections in France, is indispensable. This joint force establishes a real alternative for France and for Europe.

“The Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe is at the disposal of this new alliance initiated by François Bayrou and Jean- Louis Borloo. Just seven months from now, the renewing of Parliament will mean a turning point in the perspective of reforms needed in the European Union. Standing together on joint lists, centrist and reformist forces in France will be able to provide clear and meaningful answers to the legitimate concerns of citizens in the face of our continent's economic and social crisis. These lists will alone carry a European conviction against the timidity and opportunism of socialists and conservatives, and illusory solutions of other populists and extremists," Verhofstadt said in a statement.

French MEP Joseph Daul, the president of the centre-right European People's Party (EPP), also welcomed the creation of The Alternative.

“A gathering of centrist parties is good news to sustain the democratic debate at a time when populism and euroscepticism are on the rise. As the president of the political group that brings together the parties of the right and center throughout the European Union, I can only welcome this 'reunification', under the aegis of the European spirit, after eleven years of separation.

“After the next European elections, I hope that MEPs from UDI which are already members of the EPP Group, can accommodate their new allies from the MoDem within our political family," Daul said. "The 'privileged partnership' at the national level between the Alternative and UMP should greatly facilitate the return of all the forces of the French right and center in the EPP Group, the first political force in Parliament”.

Far-right MEP Marine Le Pen denounced The Alternative as a pro-European, pro-immigration and pro-austerity party, which “at least has the merit to own up to its political and ideological options”.

www.euractiv.com/eu-elections-2014/french-centrists-getting-back-de-news-531541

[Devonian]

Jean-Marie Le Pen will be running again as a candidate for the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region

Âgé de 85 ans, Jean-Marie Le Pen, fondateur et président d'honneur du Front national, se présentera aux élections européennes de 2014 dans la région Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, a annoncé mardi sa fille Marine.

Jean-Marie Le Pen n'a pas pris sa retraite. Âgé de 85 ans, le fondateur et président d'honneur du Front national (FN) sera à nouveau candidat aux élections européennes de 2014, a annoncé mardi 17 septembre sa fille Marine, lors de l'émission "Preuves par 3" de Public Sénat et de l'AFP. "Il sera candidat en Paca" (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur), a précisé la présidente du FN.

Jean-Marie Le Pen a déjà été élu député européen à six reprises, dont la première fois en 1984 et la dernière en 2009.

Marine Le Pen a également indiqué qu'elle se répresenterait aux européennes "dans (sa) région", à savoir le Nord-Pas-de-Calais. "Nous serons la force d'attraction aux européennes", a-t-elle assuré. "Arriver en tête" à ce scrutin "est une hypothèse crédible", selon elle.

www.france24.com/fr/20130917-france-fn-front-national-jean-marie-le-pen-candidat-elections-europeennes-2014-paca

[Devil Wincarnate]

Dubious calling the AfD a far-right party, I'd say.

[erlend]

It is probably no more right wing than the CDU as far as I can see. It just has the key difference of not wanting to subsidise foreigners.

[slicesofjim]

There seems be some bunfight going on within the Front de Gauche over deals with the Socialist Party ahead of regional elections next year. Melenchon's Parti de Gauche is broadly against them, the Parti Communiste Francais seems quite keen on them. If this leads to a split, it could complicate the retention of Melenchon's Euro seat.

[Devonian]

Partial lists of candidates for the Green Party in France

North West
1. Karima Delli MEP
2. François Veillerette
3. Madjouline Sbaï
4. Male ‘candidat d’ouverture’ (non-party member)

West
1. Yannick Jadot MEP
2. Nicole Kiil-Nielsen MEP
3. Jean-Philippe Magnen
4. Janick Moriceau

East
1. Sandrine Bélier MEP
2. Male ‘candidat d’ouverture’ (non-party member)
3. Hannah Clairière
4. Philippe Hervieux
South West
1. José Bové MEP
2. Catherine Grèze MEP
3. Stéphane Saubusse
4. Françoise Alamartine

South East
1. Michèle Rivasi MEP
2. Karim Zéribi MEP
3. Female ‘candidat d’ouverture’ (non-party member)
4. Jean-Charles Kohlhass

Massif central – Centre
1. Clarisse Heusquin
2. Male ‘candidat d’ouverture’ (non-party member)
3. Hélène Levet
4. Benoît Faucheux
Ile-de-France
1. Pascal Durand
2. Eva Joly MEP
3. Male ‘candidat d’ouverture’ (non-party member)
4. Nathalie Laville
5. Pierre Serne
6. Anny Poursinoff

Overseas
1. Yvette Duchemann
2. Male ‘candidat d’ouverture’ (non-party member)
3. Bénédicte Monville Cecco

europedecides.eu/candidates/election-lists/fr/

[Tony Otim]

Again, maybe Kris can join up these threads:

vote-2012.proboards.com/thread/2717/euro-2014-france

[Davıd Boothroyd]

Latest poll: www.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2013/10/09/le-fn-en-tete-des-intentions-de-vote-aux-europeennes_3492632_3214.html

FN 24
UMP 22
PS 19
Modem et UDI 11
Front de Gauche 10
EELV 6
NPA 2
Debout la République

[Deleted]

Jan 26, 2014 19:37:43 GMT Davıd Boothroyd said:

Latest poll: www.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2013/10/09/le-fn-en-tete-des-intentions-de-vote-aux-europeennes_3492632_3214.html

FN 24
UMP 22
PS 19
Modem et UDI 11
Front de Gauche 10
EELV 6
NPA 2
Debout la République

The second poll showing the NF in the lead... EELV seem to be showing no signs of a revival. Losing the majority of their MEPs could spell the end of them. Well probably not, but all is not well there.

[Tony Otim]

Well, 2009 was something of a freak occurrence for EELV and that poll puts them close-ish to 2004 figures, but no, it's not very promising for them.

[Deleted]

Jan 26, 2014 21:16:37 GMT Tony Otim said:

Well, 2009 was something of a freak occurrence for EELV and that poll puts them close-ish to 2004 figures, but no, it's not very promising for them.

They're wedded to the PS  with the the run-off system and they know it, going to get tanned this year and in the next assembly elections. A friend is head of the list in Massif-central, so I'm willing them on to a ~9% so she gets elected..

[Devonian]

New Opinion poll for the European elections

UMP 22%
FN 20%
PS 16%
MoDem/UDI 12%
EELV 9%
Front de Gauche 9%
NPA 4%
DLR 3%
Others 5%


www.lefigaro.fr/politique/2014/02/14/01002-20140214ARTFIG00298-europeennes-l-ump-talonnee-par-le-fn-le-ps-a-la-traine.php

[carlton43]

Feb 15, 2014 12:38:09 GMT Devonian said:

New Opinion poll for the European elections

UMP 22%
FN 20%
PS 16%
MoDem/UDI 12%
EELV 9%
Front de Gauche 9%
NPA 4%
DLR 3%
Others 5%


www.lefigaro.fr/politique/2014/02/14/01002-20140214ARTFIG00298-europeennes-l-ump-talonnee-par-le-fn-le-ps-a-la-traine.php

Wow! Thanks Devonian. Glad to see anti-EU National Front doing so well. We may have a really good bloc in the Euro Parl this year. If so, we can start to really take it to them, block up proceedings and make waves over the budget and the unaudited accounts. The fight-back gets under way.

[cibwr]

You serious, I know the French National Front is not quite the NF in the UK but they aren't far off at times, a revolting party of the extreme right - or you just indulging in a wind up.

[Deleted]

Feb 15, 2014 12:44:17 GMT carlton43 said:

Feb 15, 2014 12:38:09 GMT Devonian said:

New Opinion poll for the European elections

UMP 22%
FN 20%
PS 16%
MoDem/UDI 12%
EELV 9%
Front de Gauche 9%
NPA 4%
DLR 3%
Others 5%


www.lefigaro.fr/politique/2014/02/14/01002-20140214ARTFIG00298-europeennes-l-ump-talonnee-par-le-fn-le-ps-a-la-traine.php

Wow! Thanks Devonian. Glad to see anti-EU National Front doing so well. We may have a really good bloc in the Euro Parl this year. If so, we can start to really take it to them, block up proceedings and make waves over the budget and the unaudited accounts. The fight-back gets under way.

I would really advise that UKIP don't associate with out and out racist parties like the NF.

[Deleted]

Feb 15, 2014 12:44:17 GMT carlton43 said:

Feb 15, 2014 12:38:09 GMT Devonian said:

New Opinion poll for the European elections

UMP 22%
FN 20%
PS 16%
MoDem/UDI 12%
EELV 9%
Front de Gauche 9%
NPA 4%
DLR 3%
Others 5%


www.lefigaro.fr/politique/2014/02/14/01002-20140214ARTFIG00298-europeennes-l-ump-talonnee-par-le-fn-le-ps-a-la-traine.php

Wow! Thanks Devonian. Glad to see anti-EU National Front doing so well. We may have a really good bloc in the Euro Parl this year. If so, we can start to really take it to them, block up proceedings and make waves over the budget and the unaudited accounts. The fight-back gets under way.

Oh, Carlton.

[Sibboleth]

Greenies for Fascism?

(or 'how not to read a poll')

[carlton43]

Feb 15, 2014 16:26:24 GMT joe said:

Feb 15, 2014 12:44:17 GMT carlton43 said:

Wow! Thanks Devonian. Glad to see anti-EU National Front doing so well. We may have a really good bloc in the Euro Parl this year. If so, we can start to really take it to them, block up proceedings and make waves over the budget and the unaudited accounts. The fight-back gets under way.

I would really advise that UKIP don't associate with out and out racist parties like the NF.

Its more than that now by broadening into a multi-issue mainstream party. But we are talking allies for the dirty work of hindering disrupting and shafting the main bloody enemy...tne EU.  I pick the FN over the EU each and every day.