The PCF (re) gains ground in Seine-Saint-Denis. Patrice Bessac, communist mayor of Montreuil, was elected president of the Est Ensemble* territory, this Friday evening, in Romainville. He was a candidate against the outgoing president, the socialist Gérard Cosme, ex-mayor of Pré-Saint-Gervais, whom he beat with 45 votes against 33 for the socialist (two invalid ballots).
This election was held in the wake of virulent exchanges between the two contenders and their entourage. Patrice Bessac had thus published a press release in which he denounced the supposed negotiations of Gérard Cosme with the territorial advisers of the right and the center to keep his post. Because the municipal elections have reshuffled the cards: by winning Bobigny and Noisy-le-Sec, while keeping Montreuil, the Communists recalled that now, “52% of the inhabitants of the territory” live under the PCF flag. Thus giving them legitimacy to take the lead of Est-Ensemble.
Opposite, Matthieu Monot, head of the socialist group in Est-Ensemble, considered the approach unsuitable, given the support of his party for the Communists during the municipal elections, in particular in their victories in Bobigny and Noisy-le-Sec. And therefore regretting that “it does not go the other way”.
The support of the PS mayor of Pantin and that of Lilas was not enough
He had also castigated the “calculations” of Patrice Bessac, recalling that “the PS runs four towns in Est-Ensemble (Editor’s note: Pantin, Bagnolet, Les Lilas, Le Pré-Saint-Gervais)against three for the communists (Editor’s note: Bobigny, Noisy-le-Sec, Montreuil). »
The support strongly proclaimed by several prominent socialist elected officials – including Bertrand Kern, mayor of Pantin, and Daniel Guiraud, ex-mayor of Lilas – was not enough.
In the wake of his election, Patrice Bessac immediately greeted his predecessor. Describing Gérard Cosme as a president “voluntary, and constant in the effort, little inclined to conflicts”. And also paid a vibrant tribute to Jean-Charles Nègre, elected representative of Montreuil and figure of the PCF, who died a few weeks ago from Covid-19.
The new president of Est-Ensemble also outlined the main lines of his policy, evoking the “necessary challenge of renewal”, reassuring, also one and the other on his governance that he wishes “cooperative and integrating all the cities “. And to sweep away its “priority files”, including “public water control”, “territory revegetation and sustainable mobility”, in particular.
In the audience, Gérard Cosme did not say a word
Finally, while the agenda provided for the election, also, of the executive of the territorial public establishment, Patrice Bessac asked that it be scheduled at a next meeting, on July 16. On the other hand, he had the principle of an exceptional bonus adopted for the agents of the territory exposed to Covid-19 in their functions.
In the audience, Gérard Cosme did not say a word, his eyes lowered, the object of the attentive gaze of many elected officials, several of whom underlined, aside, “his beautiful mandate” and his “consensual” character. Others, again, in the ranks of the PS, left the room in silence before the end of the session. Without seeing the warm embraces in the winners’ camp – the Covid-19 having suddenly seemed to be only a distant memory.
It remains to be seen what traces will leave this victory of the PCF over the PS in the territory. An observer notes that a “territory is less politicized than a municipal council”, another confirming that “trench warfare is less present there”. For his part, even before being elected, Bessac had assured that “whatever the result, the discord would not last, and that the men would be reconciled”.
*Bobigny, Pantin, Montreuil, Bagnolet, Les Lilas, Le Pré-Saint-Gervais, Bondy, Noisy-le-Sec, Romainville
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