François Ruffin campaigning in the Somme among Marine Le Pen voters as the legislative elections approach

The “rebellious” outgoing deputy François Ruffin, during a barbecue organized in support of his re-election, in Abbeville (Somme), June 4, 2022. He greets Martina, whose birthday it is. ABDULMOMAN EASSA FOR “THE WORLD”

Soon noon, a small set of buildings on the outskirts of Abbeville (Somme). We have lunch early on Saturday in Menchecourt. Near the fields, the old sugar factory has given way to a shopping centre. The sound system launched at full speed to announce the arrival of the local deputy, François Ruffin (La France insoumise, LFI), leaves the walkers of pit bulls impassive. A few weeks ago, in the first round of the presidential election, in the school opposite, his supporters who stripped in this office counted 359 votes for Marine Le Pen (46%), 163 for Emmanuel Macron (21%). , 134 for Jean-Luc Mélenchon (17%). In the second round, the candidate of the National Rally (RN) collected 65% of the votes cast. A summary of this France of the towns mentioned by the deputy the day after the first round. In an interview at Releasehe already regretted that she « n’preparation[isse] not as a priority of LFI and called not to“give up at the National Rally”.

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This explains the apathy of the neighborhood, which quietly continues to sweep its doorstep without much curiosity for the noisy band of Picardy standing, the microparty of François Ruffin. However, it is difficult to remain indifferent to its festive panoply. “We tried everything, karaoke, the petanque tournament, darts, and tonight running”launches the deputy of the Somme to his supporters. “Soon the asylum”slips a teasing activist.

Support for candidate François Ruffin, in Abbeville (Somme), June 4, 2022. ABDULMOMAN EASSA FOR “THE WORLD”

In this corner of Picardy, the new national label of the unitary left does not count for much. Difficult to distinguish an effect of the agreement of the New Popular, Ecological and Social Union (Nupes) between Parisian staffs. “Here, the Nupes is not a campaign argument”, explains the candidate for a second term. In 2017, he had already succeeded in uniting behind him the “rebellious”, the communists and the environmentalists. As for the figure of Jean-Luc Mélenchon, locally, “its electoral base is too weak”, says the deputy documentary filmmaker. The LFI leader is nowhere on the leaflets distributed.

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The familiar figure in the corner, more than Jean-Luc Mélenchon or even François Ruffin, is Marine Le Pen. “You look like Marilyn Monroe”thus ventures a resident of the district, speaking to a blonde lady in discussion with the deputy.

“I have been told, sometimes I am also told Marine Le Pen, it is less flattering.

“Oh well, she’s still beautiful…”

Rare are the inhabitants of the square to come and taste the barbecue. François Ruffin motivates his troops: “The principle of the campaign is joy, joy, joy! » Around him, a summary of the politico-cinematographic universe that he has built over the course of his films. His substitute, Hayat Matboua, accompanying students with disabilities, appears in the last, Stand up women (directed with Gilles Perret, 2021). Home helpers are also there, sometimes from afar, students who recognize that she incarnates a “rural left”, “rebellious”, communists and even “fakirs”, from his newspaper. In front of them, the outgoing deputy claims it almost as a pride: unlike the macronist metropolises but also mélenchonisés, “here, we don’t have the wind at our back but the wind in front”.

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