CCity of Plantagenêt, historic heart of Le Mans. At its centre, a splendid cathedral surrounded by cobbled streets and half-timbered houses, overlooking the Sarthe capital. It is from this promontory surrounded by Roman walls that Stéphane Le Foll observes the national political panorama. The former Agriculture Minister and friend of François Hollande is only involved from afar.
Sometimes he gets on the TGV to take part in a TV show, like this November day on BFMTV. The next day we meet him in a bar near Montparnasse station. That man doesn’t really like luxury hotel bars. He prefers popular, no-frills places. A bit like him, in a way.
The Insoumi piss off Le Foll
This November morning, Stéphane Le Foll is a little grumpy. Despite the early hour, the tie is already loose, as it will no doubt be throughout the day. To tell the truth, he is still somewhat in this state of mind, which has led him to get angry with quite a few leaders of the Socialist Party. But at least he doesn’t beat around the bush. When he speaks, you listen, especially when he looks down at you from his very tall height. And Stéphane Le Foll has a lot to say.
Mélenchon, first. The Insoumi piss him off. “We should add up everything they want to finance through taxes and retirement at 60! » he shouts without waiting for his double Le Foll coffee under his beautiful white hair. One of the Insoumis’ neighbors is particularly interested in the system. “Sandrine Rousseau said, speaking about the presidential election in the United States: “It will be an election based on gender and race.” Realize he’s not even talking about Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee! »
Olivier Faure doesn’t work, he gives conferences; it doesn’t state anything, it just supports LFI.Stéphane Le Foll
Especially after his marriage to Nupes, Stéphane Le Foll fights against one of his best enemies, who was his collaborator at Solférino in François Hollande’s studio: Olivier Faure, architect of the marriage with LFI. The mayor of Le Mans, who in June had willingly lined up behind the New Popular Front because the RN was on the doorstep of power, kills two birds with one stone. One strikes Faure: “He doesn’t work, he gives conferences; it doesn’t state anything, it just supports LFI. » Second, it denounces the dominance of the Insoumi within the PFN. “LFI is the left heading towards failure. He no longer speaks to workers. Jean-Luc Mélenchon always follows a Marxist and anti-capitalist logic. However, we have moved from the class struggle to the struggle against downgrading. »
The drift of Wokism
He, the son of a Breton teacher, is at the forefront of the experience of the evolution of the “people”, this word that Mélenchon loves so much. He sees it in the working class neighborhoods of Le Mans. In the past, a generation or two ago, the majority of the population of Le Mans was cared for from birth to retirement by the
In his beautiful town hall in Le Mans, Stéphane Le Foll seeks to better understand society. He is inspired by the work of sociologists such as Dominique Schnapper and Pierre Rosanvallon, with whom he would soon like to exchange opinions. He highlights and regrets several movements that are going through the country. The slow drift towards the individual, at first, favorable to…wokism. “It is a form of individualization, because Wokism claims the rights of this and that within the community. It’s just an individual aspiration,” he says. The right, explains Le Foll, knows how to respond to this withdrawal ”with order, authority, immigration”, many individual signals. “On the left we are not able to support this movement,” he regrets.
Doubt is another trend that runs through society. Its symptom is called radicalism. “It is increasing everywhere, in Europe as in the United States. » Doubt or disillusionment are not new phenomena. They are, he says, inseparable from democracy. “We have already seen it in France with boulangism,” analyzes Le Foll. There have always been hotbeds of disillusionment, which tend to want to overthrow the established order. This movement always leads to dangerous adventures. » He doesn’t say it but thinks out loud about Donald Trump, Marine Le Pen or even Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
The presidential project of the left
Curiously, Manceau prefers for the moment to observe the political unrest without taking an active part in it. “I look at all this with hindsight,” he says like a wise old man from Sarthe. He did not even participate in the various rallies organized, almost everywhere in France, by supporters of a social democratic line, called “responsible” as opposed to rebellious excesses. We saw him neither in Bram, alongside Carole Delga, nor in Saint-Ouen, to support the mayor Karim Bouamrane, much less in the pretty medieval village of La Réole, where Raphaël Glucksmann organized his return to school. “I could have attended some of these meetings, but what is the exact policy? There is talk of a “responsible left”, but this has never made anyone dream. We need concrete things, as we saw with the Trump campaign. »
The mayor of Le Mans, an unrestrained supporter of the city’s football team, prefers to work behind the scenes. Before next summer he will write a book, a sort of program for the left. His entourage assures him: he does not intend, at least for the moment, to abandon the Cité Plantagenêt for the Elysée. But he wants to help the left conquer the presidential palace.
Stéphane Le Foll has a favorite for this challenge: Bernard Cazeneuve. The lawyer, head of his movement La Convention, has just started a tour in France to meet left-wing activists (and not only). He mobilized many experts and promised, within a few months, the publication of a presidential project. “Your initiative is very good, welcome to all those who want it,” greets Le Foll. The former Agriculture Minister will also propose to the former Prime Minister a debate before the summer, to discuss their respective presidential programs. A good reason to abandon the beautiful Cité Plantagenêt
#Olivier #Faure #doesnt #work #conferences
How does Stéphane Le Foll believe the left can reconnect with the working class in contemporary France?
Interview: A Conversation with Stéphane Le Foll
Time.news Editor: Welcome, Stéphane Le Foll! We’re thrilled to have you here in the heart of Le Mans, surrounded by both history and today’s political shifts. Your insights are particularly valuable in this turbulent time for the left in France. Let’s dive right into it. You’ve expressed your frustration with current leaders of the Socialist Party, especially Olivier Faure and his alliance with the Insoumis. Can you elaborate on your concerns?
Stéphane Le Foll: Thank you for having me. My main concern is the direction we’re heading in. Olivier Faure’s approach seems to prioritize alliances with the Insoumis over a substantive policy approach. As I see it, they’re trying to finance promises like retirement at 60 without clear plans on how to sustain them. It seems like a populist approach—one that doesn’t talk to the working class or offer real solutions to their problems.
Time.news Editor: You have a keen sense of the historical context of these parties. How do you think the left can reconnect with the working class, particularly in regions like yours?
Stéphane Le Foll: It’s pivotal that we address the actual struggles people face today. The working class isn’t solely preoccupied with outdated class struggles anymore; they are dealing with issues like job security, economic stability, and, especially now, the ramifications of a global economy. If we don’t evolve our messaging and policies to reflect this shift, we risk losing touch with those we wish to represent.
Time.news Editor: You mentioned the drift towards wokeness as a form of individualization. What do you see as the main risk in this trend for leftist politics?
Stéphane Le Foll: Wokism can fragment communities by pivoting the focus onto individual aspirations rather than collective needs. While it’s important to recognize and address individual rights, the left must not forget its roots in community and solidarity. We risk alienating sections of our base if we don’t find a balance. It’s crucial that our movement stands for the broader population rather than getting tethered to individual issues that may not resonate at large.
Time.news Editor: It sounds like you’re suggesting a return to collective action has to be paired with modern sensitivities. Could you give us an example of how this could work in practice?
Stéphane Le Foll: Absolutely! For instance, addressing economic inequality should be front and center, but the conversation must be framed in a way that also includes those who feel left behind by current cultural movements. We could develop policies that enhance job opportunities while ensuring that discussions around rights are inclusive rather than divisive. We need to create coalitions that combine labour rights with social justice, rather than feeling like we have opposing sides within our cause.
Time.news Editor: Radicalism seems to stem from a general disillusionment, as you’ve indicated. Given the rise of figures like Mélenchon and nationalist movements across Europe, how do you interpret this trend?
Stéphane Le Foll: It is indicative of a deep-seated distrust in established orders. History teaches us that times of uncertainty often breed radicalism. Look how past movements arose from economic strife or social tensions. The challenge for us, as progressives, is to engage with these feelings of doubt constructively—to provide hope and alternatives rather than alienating those who are frustrated with the status quo.
Time.news Editor: Moving forward, what do you envision as the most critical steps for the left in the upcoming political landscape?
Stéphane Le Foll: We need a dual approach: firstly, reconsolidating our base by truly listening to what the electorate wants and aligning our policies accordingly. Secondly, we must craft a narrative that unites issues of social justice with economic justice—creating a compelling vision for France that resonates with common people, not just party insiders. If we fail to do this, we’ll only see more fragmentation and further radical movements.
Time.news Editor: Thank you, Stéphane Le Foll, for sharing your heartfelt insights and for your commitment to a renewed left in France. The journey ahead certainly seems challenging, but with thoughtful leadership like yours, there’s hope for a more unified collective.
Stéphane Le Foll: Thank you! It’s been a pleasure discussing these important issues. I’m hopeful that together we can navigate these waters and restore a stronger connection with the French people.