Adrien Quatennens has announced that he will withdraw his candidacy for the legislative elections in the Nord region on Sunday, June 16th. Quatennens, a deputy for La France insoumise, made this decision due to controversy surrounding his nomination as a candidate within the Nouveau Front populaire party. He was facing pushback from the party’s partners regarding his previous conviction for domestic violence. Quatennens explained that he did not want his candidacy to be used against La France insoumise and the Nouveau Front populaire, especially in a time when all efforts should be focused on defeating the far right.
Despite knowing that his decision would disappoint many, Quatennens felt it was necessary to relieve his supporters. He believes that the use of his situation as a pretext for political gain is unfair and wanted to make that clear. As an elected official in the Nord region since 2017, Quatennens had been reappointed by LFI despite his past conviction for domestic violence. This decision had sparked outrage among the other parties within the Nouveau Front populaire, specifically the socialists and the ecologists, causing a debate to ensue for several days. Following Quatennens’ announcement, LFI released a statement supporting his decision and announcing new candidates for the legislative elections.
In response to Quatennens’ withdrawal, LFI put forward Aurélien Le Coq, a national co-leader of the Jeunes insoumis, and Lahouaria Addouche, a social worker, as their new candidates on behalf of the Nouveau Front populaire. LFI also called for the removal of any dissident candidacy. Amy Bah, a member of the feminist collective Noustoutes, had put herself forward as a candidate in the same constituency on Saturday in alignment with the values of the Nouveau Front populaire. With the support of Lille Mayor Martine Aubry, Bah officially submitted her candidacy on Sunday despite not receiving formal approval from the party. She had previously expressed her desire to replace Quatennens and criticized him as a weak link for the left.
The decision by Quatennens to withdraw his candidacy sheds light on the internal dynamics within LFI and the Nouveau Front populaire, leading to a reshuffling of candidates for the legislative elections. Despite the controversy surrounding his nomination, Quatennens stood by his beliefs and felt it was necessary to step back in order to prevent further damage to the party and its allies. This turn of events reflects the complex nature of political alliances and the importance of addressing issues such as domestic violence within the political sphere. As new candidates are introduced and campaigns press forward, the focus shifts towards the ultimate goal of defeating the far right in the upcoming elections.
