The alliance with the Christian Democrats. It's no ! (B. Poignant)
The head of the French Socialist delegation to the European Parliament does not endorse the alliance with the Christian Democrats. Interview with Bernard Poignant
The Socialists have chosen to form an alliance in the European Parliament with the Christian Democrats of the EPP, how do you justify this?
French socialists do not agree with this strategy. But the (socialist) group in its majority thinks the opposite and should accept what is only a technical agreement. In a group, there is a majority and a minority, you have to accept that. We must also understand that in France, we have a political life punctuated by two rounds. This generally makes it possible to form a majority before taking office. This is not the case in the European Parliament, as in most other countries, there is only one round. It is only after the elections that agreements are formed.
Does this mean that you will always vote like the Christian Democrats?
But not at all. This agreement is made to make Parliament work. We are not in the same situation as a majority which, for five years, follows a government. The majorities are formed according to the proposed text.
José-Manuel Baroso, le premier ministre portugais (centre-droit) a été nommé président de la Commission européenne au sommet de Bruxelles. C’est un bon choix selon vous ?
We do not intend to condone whoever organized the Azores summit (on Iraq). We are therefore against, firmly against, also because of his attitude on the stability pact. And we should be followed by the group. At least a large part. It is thus not sure that certain Portuguese socialists, by national pride, do not vote for. We must also realize that among the heads of government who took this decision, some are socialists. Each MP will then have to ask himself the question of whether he is following his government or if he is following his point of view.
Interview by Nicolas Gros-Verheyde
(Article published in France-Soir, July 2004)
(*) This Rocardian (he is the founder of Michel Rocard's "convince" clubs), former president of the FNSER, the National Federation of Socialist and Republican elected officials, former mayor of Quimper, has been a European deputy since 1999.
