“It's already gone on too long! It's irresponsible,” says Lucie Castets in Montpellier before the appointment of the new Prime Minister

Lucie Castets and Michaël Delafosse, this Saturday morning, Place de la Comédie, just before she goes to catch her train. Th. J. – Midi Libre

Lucie Castets spent 24 hours in Montpellier, invited by the Communist Party which is, this weekend, meeting at the Corum in summer university. So she is the future head of government?

Should we say Madame le Premier ministre or Madame la Première ministre ?

Madame la Première ministre. As I am for saying Madame la maire.

In your opinion, what is the President of the Republic playing at ?

He is casting. He acknowledged yesterday (Friday, Editor's note) that the French have sent a clear signal: an expectation of a break in the policies implemented. That's good but it's not enough, he is always tempted to build his own government. It doesn't work like that. Institutions don't work like that, whether he likes it or not. Today, there is no absolute majority but the New Popular Front is the leading political force, the New Popular Front won the elections.

How then did you experience the rumor and the insistent name of Xavier Bertrand ?

I do not comment on individual names…

In public opinion, it was in any case incomprehensible…

Yes, of course. It was totally contradictory with the fact that the French are waiting for political change. This is the lesson that we must learn from the elections. And the President clearly shares this observation today. I choose to believe him. This message is real.

However, your name has been circulating for several months, since before the Olympic Games, but you have still not been nominated.

The President of the Republic seems to be tempted to form his government as he wishes. He does not comply with the institutional logic which is to appoint a Prime Minister from the force at the head and then let this Prime Minister form a government with discussions and respect for the institutions.

Who will you form your government with ?

For the moment, we are forming the government with all the political forces of the New Popular Front. When I say for the moment, it is because, of course, we are thinking about expanding to civil society. I myself come from civil society, it is very important to me. It helped the NFP win and block the RN. It is very important to me and it has been part of my commitments for many years. Then, we commit the government to a clear political line and if people beyond the New Popular Front are ready to implement this political line, we will work with all the good wills.

And a technical rather than political government ?

In fact, everything is political. Technique is political. The President tried to make us believe that the solution is only technical. In political life, there are winners and losers. Today, the losers are the French who cannot live from their work, for example. The budget is an extremely technical act, but ultimately, it is above all a political act: the budget, the financing of public services, social assistance, support for greener sectors, an ambitious industrial policy, etc. All of this is politics, not technique. The technique is the means.

When do you expect to be nominated ? Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday ? At the end of the week ?

I'll let you ask the President.

There is no other name than yours circulating today. Do you expect to be nominated ?

Oh yes, in any case, we are preparing for it. That is the institutional logic. It has already gone on too long! And it is very important to say it. It is irresponsible to leave the French without a government. Today, we have a government that has resigned and is only managing current affairs. In particular, we need to prepare a budget for France. It is eminently political and there is no one to outline the contours of this budget. This is democratically unacceptable.

Michaël Delafosse and Lucie Castets are on first-name terms and kissing each other. Th. J. – Midi Libre

Michaël Delafosse: “Jupiter is far away and it hurts a lot”

Sitting on the terrace of the Esplanade café, Lucie Castets and Michaël Delafosse chat. The mayor of Montpellier clearly shows his support for the woman who is tipped to be the next Prime Minister. The informal “tu” and the kiss are mandatory.

Michaël Delafosse : “Beyond the fact that Lucie Castets has the largest number of MPs behind her, I support her because she is the legitimate one to found a government. She has an ecological ambition, embodies a change of method with an affirmation of social democracy. Jupiter is far away and it has done a lot of harm. Our democracy must be revived, it is also a commitment, we must repeal this pension reform which is harsh. It is two more years of work. In addition, the President forgot to say why he dissolved it. Lucie Castets is someone very serious. Her career, her commitment, it's solid."

Lucie Castets appreciates. You knew Montpellier ? "No, it's the first time I've come, it's magnificent. And we're very well received! (a frank smile shared with Michaël Delafosse at his side). I will come back with pleasure if the mayor invites me."

I subscribe to read the rest