Francis Letellier: It was you, as number one of the PS, who insisted that there be a left-wing primary before the presidential election. There would be around 100,000 registered for the first round on Friday October 9 and Saturday October 10. Do you consider it a success?
Olivier Faure: It’s a clear interest. Moreover, if I believe the audience figures for the three debates which took place, it is because, obviously, there was a form of waiting. What's happening on the left? What is happening on the reformist left?
Is 100,000 voters a success?
100,000 would be a success, yes, obviously.
Last debate last night, the last of three televised debates. You did not do each other any favors during the debates and particularly last night. Do you think that after the primary, everyone will be able to get behind the chosen candidate?
I will do everything, once the ballot declares me the winner, so that I can bring together my family, bring together the left, then bring together the French because I do not believe in this inevitability which is constantly presented to us of an obvious victory for the extreme right. She is the favorite in the election, but today there is evidence that the French cannot accept finding themselves with a president under electronic bracelet and an acolyte who is now a notorious anti-Semite.
Are you sure you'll be in the second round?
I do everything for that.
You said: “I will be in the second round”. Are there clues that give this, that allow you to say that?
But I believe that there is some form of evidence in the fact that there are basically two sensitivities being expressed. There is a sensitivity which is rather oriented towards the center right and which considers that this is where things can be done.
Who is it ? It’s Gabriel Attal… Raphaël Glucksmann?
This is a revealing slip of the tongue. What I am looking for is to bring together the left, the ecologists, the trade unionists, the associations, all those who, today, hope for change, but who are waiting for its incarnation.
If Raphaël Glucksmann is chosen at the end, he is not from the Socialist Party, do we agree? Are you expecting specific commitments from him and on what?
I don't ask myself this question. The reality is that I will do everything to initiate this rally because I have always said the same thing. I proposed a primary from Ruffin to Glucksmann. For what ? Because I have long understood that division produces failure. We have already experienced, on two consecutive occasions, the absence of the left in the second round. I think it would be useful this time for the left to be in the second round, for a simple reason, which is that I don't believe...
But Raphaël Glucksmann, is he the left?
Yes, but that's not enough. I'm not trying to create the narrowest corridor possible, I'm trying to bring people together.
What you criticize Raphaël Glucksmann is for not being clear about alliances. Are you asking him to clarify again?
I hope he clarifies on his own, but what I mean...
Isn't that clear enough yet?
The problem in life is that when you refuse the agreement with the left and you yourself are not able to bring the whole country together, you have to find a majority somewhere. So what I'm saying is that we must first bring together the entire left, then bring together the French and ensure that we avoid a catastrophe for the country. Everyone understood what I was talking about.
