“Partnership”, “innovation”, “risky bet” : the macronist party always likes to tap into the lexical field of entrepreneurial culture. Visiting Reunion, Stéphane Séjourné, secretary general of Renaissance, signed on Friday, February 24, what looks like a political subcontracting agreement. Unable to establish itself on the island, the presidential party decided to “renounce a local structuring” and has chosen to entrust the political movement trait d’union (MPTU) “the care of organizing the political animation of the territory in its name”. Also under the terms of this agreement, MPTU “undertakes to relay the action of the government and Emmanuel Macron whenever necessary and mainly when lies and disinformation thrive”.
A young political party formed at the end of 2022, Trait d’union is led by Michel Vergoz, 73, a local political figure, mayor of the commune of Sainte-Rose, regional opposition councilor and macronist before the first round of the presidential election of 2017. The time has passed when En Marche! sought above all to appeal to personalities from civil society and not to political professionals.
Led by personalities unknown to citizens and without political experience, plagued by struggles for influence and quarrels, the presidential party, which has less than eighty members on the island, has never succeeded in weighing locally. This is evidenced by the successive failures of the Macronist formation at the polls, whether during the European elections of 2019, the presidential election or the legislative elections of 2022..
Macron’s unpopularity
In Reunion, as in many overseas territories, the presidential election resurrected a vote of no confidence in the head of state. In the first round, Jean-Luc Mélenchon came out on top with 40.26% of the vote, followed by Marine Le Pen (24.73%). In the second round, the far-right candidate achieved a historic score on the island (59.56%), much higher than that which she obtained at the national level (41.45%). In the legislative elections, none of the candidates supported by Renaissance made it to the second round. In total, Reunion has five deputies from the New People’s Ecological and Social Union (Nupes), a socialist and a diverse right. “We took a 7-0over Michel Vergoz. The voters gave us the thumbs up. »
By signing this partnership, Stéphane Séjourné intends “trust local elected officials”which act without depending “Paris directives and ready-made language elements”. With Mr. Vergoz in the front line. “Social Democrat and Republican” which was built in adversity with the Reunionese Communist Party of Paul Vergès, hegemonic on the left until the 2000s, this mad elected official is one of the rare Reunionese politicians to wet his shirt to defend the pension reform. Seasoned debater, known for his inexhaustible talk, claiming his label of“iconoclast”, the former senator from 2011 to 2017 – who was also a pharmacist and radio host – calls on the other elected representatives of Reunion supporting the government to “working in the open”. An indirect message to Cyrille Melchior (various right), president of the departmental council, UDI senator Nassimah Dindar or Michel Fontaine, leader of the Les Républicains party in Reunion, all supporters of Emmanuel Macron but who remain discreet or very measured for support government policy. As for Senator Renaissance Michel Dennemont, those close to him recognize that he does not have the qualities of a « grandstand ».
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