In Villeurbanne, the former socialist mayor Jean Paul Bret supports the PRG candidate
“To vote left today is to vote Katia Buisson. I am not subject to the situation that is made for us” said Tuesday morning Jean-Paul Bret. The former PS mayor of Villeurbanne (2001-2020) publicly supported the candidate of the Radical Left Party (PRG) in the 6e district of the Rhone. Furious at the agreement of the PS within the framework of the New Popular, Ecological and Social Union (Nupes), which imposed on Villeurbanne the candidacy of Gabriel Amard (LFI), “appalled by the absence of a socialist candidacy for the first time in the political history of Villeurbanne”Mr. Bret believes that the PRG is now alone in a position to embody a candidacy “republican, attached to secularism”. “I remain a leftist and socialist, I have never abstained in my life, the blank vote is useless” exposed the former elected official during a specially organized press conference.
“My little party has never deviated from issues of the Republic, secularism, Europe, it finds itself committed to politics on values. Gathering is not done by a steamroller,” by Katia Buisson. “I am not dissident, I am PRG, I am legitimate” added the municipal councilor delegated to the memory of Villeurbanne, in the executive of mayor Cédric Van Styvendael (PS), who supports the agreement signed by the management of the PS. The PRG candidate hopes to capture leftist voters disappointed by the Nupes.
“A third way is possible. We are pro-European, for republican universalism. Finding yourself with Jean-Luc Mélenchon who advocates leaving Europe is not possible” abounds Jean-François Auzal, president of the PRG du Rhône federation. The PRG carries candidacies in two constituencies in the Lyon region, and officially supports four dissident left-wing candidacies, such as in Vaulx-en-Velin, where Stéphane Gomez’s alternate is PRG. The presence of the PRG is unprecedented for legislative elections. “We feel a lot of support, it’s a real momentum” affirms Mr. Auzal, member of the national office of the PRG. “Between applications and support, the PRG is present in 180 constituencies in the first round, it’s unheard of”added the delegate in charge of the territories.