CONDITIONS The sick leave of the deputy from the North, who admitted in mid-September to having slapped his wife, has ended, and the terms of his return are not yet not obvious
The rebellious deputy for the North Adrien Quatennens, in 2021. (archives) — Sebastien SALOM-GOMIS/AFP
- Since he admitted in mid-September to having slapped his wife, with whom he is in the process of divorcing, the LFI deputy for the North Adrien Quatennens has stepped back and has been on sick leave.
- This stoppage has come to an end, and the elected official intends to return to the Assembly. The rebellious group is currently discussing the terms of this return.
- Nothing filters on the contours of this return, but we are assured that the debate is really taking place. Speech does not seem so free, however.
Two tweets. For the first time since admitting, in September, having slapped the face. his wife, with whom he is in the process of divorcing, the deputy LFI Adrien Quatennens spoke publicly last weekend. Via two tweets, therefore, about the brazenness of a building at Lille, of which he is elected. It’s that, little by little small, Adrien Quatennens begins his return. His sick leave, which lasted several weeks, is now over. And the party, through the voice of Manuel Bompard, announced the color last week: “We are working collectively on the terms and timing of the return of Adrien Quatennens.” The subject was to the agenda for the meeting of the bureau of the France insoumise group last Monday, and for the group meeting on Tuesday.
We still have a hard time see precisely what terms it is. Some speak of conditions, others of sanctions, but nothing concrete. It is about training on violence against women. “But çthat is the training that everyone has had, he was already there. behind when it took place,” “friend” by Adrien Quatennens. And that seems very light. In terms of sanction, an LFI deputy known for her feminist positions considers that the question to be addressed is to ask is what is “politically fair or not””” while noting that the deputy du Nord has already lost his position as coordinator of the movement and his plans for 2027. “It’s super difficult. If I don’t talk, it’s also because my idea isn’t made up.”
“The question is really asked”
The word was past so that nothing filters. “The debate space is the group meeting, not the press,” pings the “friend” quoted upper. “I can only tell you that we’re discussing,” adds a new MP that we won’t find fault with. If there is silence, it is because the internal debate is really taking place, believes the feminist MP interviewed. “I am loyal. I don’t pressure you; outside because I know that the question is really asked, that speech is free and that it is not Jean-Luc who will decide alone.”
Really? Jean-Luc Mélenchon said to several times, and again recently at Liberation, that Adrien Quatennens was to return. The debate is therefore all the same under pressure from the former candidate for the post. the presidential, “withdrawn but not behind; retirement.” “I’m not sure it helped Adrien’s cause internally when Jean-Luc made that kind of statement. I think it’s also what tenses up those who don’t want his return”, continues the same deputy. Officially, “everyone in the group agrees that he shouldn’t be expelled (…) or asked for his resignation,” sidente, Mathilde Panot. Unofficially, there are opponents, but they don’t come forward.
Blind spot
“There are feminists, but above all there is a big generational divide in the group on this issue, remarks the feminist MP interviewed. Speech is free but within certain limits. Because he’s a comrade and there is bound to be some affect. Obviously, those who have doubts do not express them.”
However, it will be necessary to a moment, make a decision. And everyone insists that she will be there. also collective. A vote is possible, say some, in a movement which does not have as a first quality a highly developed internal democracy. “We have been voting since the start of the school year, and it’s not a tragedy,” quoted. On minor matters, of course, “but it obviously helps to legitimize a decision,” she believes.
The rhythm itself is part of the debates. Because if for those close to Adrien Quatennens, the question is pressing, for the others, it is rather urgent to wait. “We also have in mind that a court decision will eventually arrive [Adrien Quatennens is targeted; by a complaint from his wife, and the Lille prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation]…”, remarks the feminist MP. So that the date of return of the deputy from the North will already be an indicator to know which side succeeded in make his point heard.
There remains, in all this debate, a blind spot: why a return of Adrien Quatennens? The new MP already quoted makes it a matter of principle: “The right to return and to rehabilitation is also a subject,” A surprising justification for facts that are less than three months old, and quite far from the priorities of feminist associations, which further stigmatize impunity. in this kind of business.
Politically, the hon. of the North – despite all the talent that we recognize in him well beyond rebellious benches – can it then be anything other than a cannonball? Feminist MP interviewed – who had taken a long time to answer “no” to the issue of exclusion – in mumbles and studies. The Member’s Response “friend” is much clearer: “We will need him when the pension file is on the table. Her contribution will be important, including when we talk about women’s pensions and inequalities.” In short, we will forget.