For several months, they worked hard to publicize their initiative. In Toulouse, the volunteers of La Primaire Populaire are preparing the appointment of a single candidate on the left for the next presidential election. From January 27 to 30, 2022, a vote is organized on the Internet to decide between the seven finalist candidates.

There should only be one left. Only one left-wing candidate to challenge Emmanuel Macron. The one who will emerge victorious from the election organized by La Primaire Populaire. This initiative, led by civil society, one for the purpose of designate the personality who will be able to bring together all the forces of the left in the next presidential election. At least that’s the initial wish. Because, the majority of candidates for nomination identified by La Primaire Populaire would not intend to submit to the rules of the game.

The seven finalists of the Popular Primary

In Toulouse, no less than 10,000 people make up the active community of the “Pop Primary”, as they usually call themselves. They are part of 300,000 signatories of the national appeal who defends a single candidacy on the left, behind a personality designated by the citizens. It should undertake to promote the common base written by the movement.

This Saturday, January 15, the Toulouse volunteers revealed, place Arnaud-Bernard, the names of the seven successful candidates for the final vote at the investiture of the Popular Primary:

• Anna Agueb Porterie, environmental activist and co-founder of the movement.
• Anne Hidalgo, candidate for the nomination of the Socialist Party.
• Yannick Jadot, invested candidate of Europe Ecologie-Les Verts.
• Pierre Larroturou, New Deal MEP.
• Charlotte Merchandise, consultant to the WHO (World Health Organization).
• Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of La France Insoumise.
• Christiane Taubira, former Minister of Justice under the presidential mandate of François Hollande.

A test shot

Problem: These seven personalities have not all agreed to participate in this primary. Indeed, Anne Hidalgo, Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Yannick Jadot have clearly characterized their hostility on the initiative. “Those, judged to be divisive, will suffer from their position in the final vote,” said Mathilde, a volunteer in Toulouse, and supporter of a single candidate in the presidential election, from the Popular Primary.
However, if they are losers and they do not withdraw, the initiative will have been lucky. But “it’s far from being a failure”, for Mathilde, who still believes in it. “To date, more than 250,000 people have registered to participate in this investiture, more than for any other primary policy. This legitimizes us,” she argues.
However, if the process does not achieve its objective, the political project will indeed be aborted. But whatever. For the volunteers, this is a “first attempt”. ” The objective was first to make themselves known, that all French people hear about our initiative so that it is more successful in the next election,” admits Mathilde.

Vote “for” a candidate
and no longer out of spite

A new process for more democracy

For now, volunteers are mobilized to convince voters to register for the final vote from January 27 to 30. “We will call the signatories of the national call to encourage them to register. We organize happenings to explain to Toulouse residents the opportunity offered to them here: the possibility of voter “for” a candidate and no longer out of spite or for “the least worst”, continues Mathilde.

Indeed, the method of voting of La Primaire Populaire is unique in that voters do not vote to designate a personality but judge each of the candidates. For this, they will have to answer the question: “To win ecology and social justice in the presidential election, I believe that each of these personalities would be…” And to affix the mention “very good”, ” good”, “fairly good”, “fair” or “insufficient”.
The winner will be the candidate who obtains the best majority mention. “This voting method certainly changes our voting habits, but it has the advantage of favoring an outcome closer to deliberative decision-making than the first-past-the-post ballot,” asserts La Primaire Populaire.

To know the name of the winner of this investiture, and to know if the initiative was successful, see you on January 31 next.