Wikipedia

The Ecologists

This article is about the political party. For the political coalition that it's a member of, seeEcologist Pole.

The Ecologists – Europe Ecology The Greens(French:Les Écologistes – Europe Écologie Les Verts), commonly known asThe Ecologists(French:Les Écologistes,LE) and formerly asEurope Ecology The Greens[3](French:Europe Écologie Les Verts[øʁɔpekɔlɔʒilevɛʁ],EELV[əɛlve]) until 2023, is acentre-left[4]toleft-wing[5][6]green[7]political party in France. The party is a member of theEuropean Green Party.[8]It was formed on 13 November 2010 from the merger ofThe GreensandEurope Ecology.[9]

The Ecologists – Europe Ecology The Greens
Les Écologistes – Europe Écologie Les Verts
National SecretaryMarine Tondelier
President of the Federal CouncilHenri Arevalo
SpokespersonsAlain Coulombel
Chloé Sagaspe
Senate LeaderGuillaume Gontard
European Parliament LeaderTerry Reintke
Philippe Lamberts
Founded13 November 2010;14 years ago(2010-11-13)
Merger ofThe Greens
Europe Ecology
New Democrats
Headquarters3 Rue de Vincennes
93100Montreuil
Youth wingJeunes écologistes
Membership(2022)11,106[1]
IdeologyGreen politics
Alter-globalization
European federalism[2]
Political positionCentre-lefttoleft-wing
National affiliationEcologist Pole(2020–present)
New Popular Front(2024–present)
New Ecological and Social People's Union(2022–2024)
European affiliationEuropean Green Party
European Parliament groupGreens/EFA
International affiliationGlobal Greens
ColoursGreen
National Assembly
38 / 577
Senate
16 / 348
European Parliament
5 / 81
Presidency of Regional Councils
0 / 17
Presidency of Departmental Councils
0 / 101
Website
lesecologistes.fr

History

edit

Party foundation

edit

Following the2008 municipal elections,The Greenssought to increase their political influence. Echoing these calls,Daniel Cohn-Benditproposed the creation of open electoral lists for the2009 European electionsand the Greens' leadership allowed for the exploration of this possibility.Europe Ecology(EE), launched in the autumn of 2008, allowed The Greens to create a widerelectoral alliancewithenvironmentalistsand social activists who had not been party members in the past. The new structure included, alongside longtime Green politicians, new activists or environmentalists such asJean-Paul Besset(close toNicolas Hulot),José Bové(alter-globalisationactivist from theConfédération paysanne),Yannick Jadot(former head ofGreenpeaceFrance),Eva Joly(magistrate) andMichèle Rivasi(founder ofCRIIRAD).

EE was successful in the2009 European electionson 7 June 2009, reaching third place in France with 16.3% of the vote, only a few thousand votes behind theSocialist Party(PS), winning 14 of France's 72 seats in the European Parliament.[9]The experience led to further attempts to expand the French green movement, ahead of the2010 regional elections.Europe Ecology ran independent lists in the first round in every region, once again with the participation of new activists includingPhilippe Meirieu,Laurence VichnievskyorAugustin Legrand.While they fell short of their 2009 success, EE nevertheless managed to win 12.5% of the vote nationally (third place).

The Greens and those new activists who joined the movement by way of EE – but who did not wish to join the party – began talks to allow for the creation of a new, enlargedpolitical movement.In October and November 2010, EE and later The Greens ratified new statutes and a new manifesto. Notably, these new statutes allowed for "cooperators" - individuals who did not join the party as full paying members but who are nonetheless allowed to run as candidates, vote in presidential primaries and partake in debates over the platform.[10]

The official launch of the new party, presented as a new political force, was held inLyonon 9 November 2010. The new party adopted the name Europe Ecology – The Greens (Europe Écologie Les Verts,EELV). However, the launch of the party was marked by tensions between longtime politicians from the former Green party and new activists from various non-political social movements. Jean-Paul Besset, for example, resigned all his leadership responsibilities in EELV within weeks and denounced a "poisonousCold Waratmosphere ".[11]A month later,Philippe Meirieuwas named as the first president of the party's new federal council, created by the EELV statutes.

In the2011 cantonal elections,EELV won 8.2% of the vote nationally – becoming the third largest force on the left behind the PS andLeft Front(FG). Although the traditional runoff deals were sealed with both of these parties, some EELV candidates qualified for the runoff against other left-wing candidates did not withdraw, creating tensions with EELV's traditional left-wing allies.[12]Ultimately, EELV won 27 seats, 16 more seats than what the Greens had won in the same series of cantons in 2004.

A presidential primary to nominate a candidate for the2012 presidential election,open to members and cooperators, was held in June and July 2011. Four candidates sought the EELV nomination, most notablyEva Joly,anMEPandNicolas Hulot,a well known TV personality and environmentalist. Joly emerged victorious in the runoff on 12 July with 58.16%.[13]

In the2011 senatorial elections,an agreement with the PS allowed for the first left senatorial majority under theFifth Republicand the creation of the first entirely green parliamentary group.

On 15 November 2011, EELV and the PS signed a coalition agreement prior to the 2012 presidential election. The agreement included a commitment to reduce the share ofnuclear energy in Francefrom 75% to 50% by 2025, the progressive shutdown of 24 nuclear reactors, the creation of acarbon taxand raising taxes on very high incomes. The agreement also included an ad hoc electoral deal for the2012 legislative electionsin which the PS conceded over 60 constituencies to EELV, which would allow EELV to form a parliamentary group.[14]On 8 May 2012, following the left's victory withFrançois Hollande,EELV's federal council voted in favour of cabinet participation in the new left-wing government.[15]

2012–2015: presidential and legislative elections, partners of the government

edit

In the2012 presidential election,EELV candidate Eva Joly won 2.3% of the vote and was eliminated in the first round.[9][16]

In the2012 legislative elections,EELV candidates won 5.46% nationally and elected a record 17 deputies (in addition to one member of the regionalistBreton Democratic Union,backed by EELV). However, every EELV deputy who was victorious had benefited from the endorsement of the PS, although many faced local PS dissidents.[citation needed]

In thegovernment of Jean-Marc Ayraultformed on 16 May 2012, EELV has two cabinet ministers: former party leaderCécile Duflotasminister of housing and territorial equality,and former MEPPascal Canfinas junior minister for international development.

In the2014 European electionson 25 May 2014, EELV received 8.95% of the vote, sixth place nationally, returning 6 MEPs.[17]

Since 2017: opposition to Emmanuel Macron, European elections and municipal victories

edit

In the2019 European elections,EELV performed significantly above expectations, winning 13.5% of the vote and 13 out of 79 MEPs, placing third behindLREMandRN.This came despite EELV having not polled above 10% during the campaign.

Following the success of the2019 European elections,the polls for the municipal elections predict good results for EELV. Thus, cities likeRouen,Villeurbanne,Strasbourg,BesançonorLilleare considered as being able to be won. On the evening of the first round, around twenty environmentalist lists won the elections in the first round (including outgoing mayors such as inSchiltigheim), and EELV came out on top in several large cities (Besançon,Lyon,StrasbourgorGrenoble), or second but favorite in others (Bordeaux,Poitiers). The scores are however disappointing in several big cities likeParis,Nîmes,MontpellierorMarseille.In the latter, however, the EELV's list (8% in the first round) merges with the union list of the left which came in first (23%), moreover led by an environmental candidate from but suspended from the party,Michèle Rubirola.

The second round confirms these good scores since the party wins the municipalities ofLyon,StrasbourgandBordeaux,the latter not having known alternation since 1945, but alsoBesançon,Tours,PoitiersandGrenoble.The candidates ofLilleandMetzboth suffer a narrow loss of 200 votes, respectively against and with theSocialist Party.TheRouenandVilleurbanne's lists join those of the Socialist Party, both elected, like that ofMarseille.[18]

In October 2022,The New Democratsmerged into EELV.[19]In October 2023, EELV changed its name to The Ecologists.[3]

Ideology

edit

As a green party, EELV prioritises and emphasises environmental issues. It calls for a 40% reduction inCO2emissions,phasing outnuclear energyin favour ofrenewable energy,the creation of 600,000 'green jobs', eco-friendlyurban planning(the creation of green housing and the promotion ofpublic transportation), the development ofsustainable agricultureand a moratorium on the use ofgenetically modified organisms.[20][third-party source needed]EELV, like the Greens before it, has generally opposed large-scale development projects, most recently theAéroport du Grand OuestinNotre-Dame-des-Landes(Loire-Atlantique), although the PS and the incumbent government officially support the project.

On economic issues, EELV leans strongly to the left. Besides the creation of 'green jobs' in fields such as thermal isolation and renewable energies, it also supports acarbon taxand raising theprogressive income taxlevels for high earners (60% for incomes between €100,000 and €500,000, 70% for incomes over €500,000). EELV is close to someanticapitalistand manyalter-globalisationactivists.[10]In its alternative budget in 2011, EELV proposed to reduce thepublic debtby closing fiscal loopholes.

The party has traditionally supportedEuropean federalism,although many of its European policies are in conflict with the current direction and leadership of theEuropean Union.EELV, like the Greens before it, has been one of the strongest proponents ofdecentralisation,officially supporting "differentiated federalism" which would devolve significant powers to theregions of France.The regionalist federationRégions et Peuples Solidaireshas long been closely allied to the green movement in France.[10]François Alfonsiof theParty of the Corsican Nation(PNC) was elected to theEuropean Parliamenton an EE list in 2009.

The green movement supports political reform, includingvoting rights for foreignersin both local and national elections, abolishing thecumul des mandats,term limits and a 'Sixth Republic' with a more powers for theparliamentanddirect democracy.[20][third-party source needed]The greens have long promotedgender equalityin politics, its leadership and electoral candidates tend to respect gender parity and the EELV group in theFrench National Assemblyhas two co-presidents, one male and one female.

Electoral results

edit

Presidential

edit
Election year Candidate 1st round 2nd round Result
Votes % Rank Votes % Rank
2012 Eva Joly 828,345 2.31 6th — Lost
2017[a] Benoît Hamon 2,291,288 6.36 5th — Lost
2022 Yannick Jadot 1,627,853 4.63 6th — Lost
  1. ^SupportedPScandidate.[21]

Legislative

edit
Election year # of overall votes % of overall vote # of overall seats won +/-
2012 1,418,264 5.46% (#5)
18 / 577
2017 973,527 4.30% (#9)
1 / 577
 17
2022 891,292 3.92% (#6)
27 / 577
 26
2024 TBD TBD TBD TBD
  • 18 (incl. Paul Molac of theUDB[22]) were elected, butCécile Duflotresigned her seat while minister in the government, the seat went to PS. She re-took her seat in May 2014.Isabelle Attardleft EELV forNew Dealin December 2013.

European Parliament

edit
Election Leader Votes % Seats +/− EP Group
2009 Daniel Cohn-Bendit 2,803,759 16.28 (#3)
14 / 72
 New G/EFA
2014 Emmanuelle Cosse 1,695,914 8.95 (#5)
6 / 74
 9
2019[a] Yannick Jadot 3,055,023 13.48 (#3)
13 / 79
 7
2024[b] Marie Toussaint 1,348,049 5.47 (#6)
5 / 81
 8
  1. ^Run in a joint list withR&PSandAEI,that won 13 seats in total.
  2. ^Run in a joint list withAA,that won 5 seats in total.

Other elections

edit

Elected officials

edit

Member of theNational Assembly

edit

Member of theFrench Senate

edit

MEPs

edit

Other elected officials

edit

EELV claims 34departmental councillors,65regional councillorsand 50mayors.Cities with an EELV mayor includeMarseille,Lyon,Bordeaux,Tours,Grenoble,StrasbourgandPoitiers.

Leadership

edit

The party executive is formed by the Executive Bureau. The national secretary is the leader of the executive bureau and is the party's most senior leader. The federal council is composed of 150 members (75 men and 75 women) and serves as the party's parliament, meeting on a monthly basis.

See also

edit

Notes and references

edit
  1. ^"À l'heure du congrès, EELV se rêve en parti de masse".22 November 2022.
  2. ^Mestre, Abel (25 March 2019)."Elections européennes: EELV dévoile son « plan d'action pour l'Europe »".lemonde.fr(in French).Retrieved2022-05-07.
  3. ^abJustine Guitton-Boussion et Mathieu Génon (photographies) (16 October 2023)."EELV devient Les Écologistes: ça va changer quoi?"[EELV becomes Les Écologists: what will that change?].Repoerterre(in French).
  4. ^Humphries, Heather Elizabeth (May 2019).Results of EU Parliamentary Elections 2019.EU Centre in Singapore. p. 6.
  5. ^Bouthray, Éric (2 October 2019)."Le Creusot. Pierre-Étienne Graffard conduira une liste EELV aux municipales".lejsl(in French).Retrieved2022-02-12.
  6. ^Golder, Sona Nadenichek (2017).Multi-level electoral politics: beyond the second-order election model.Ignacio Lago, André Blais, Elisabeth Gidengil, Thomas Gschwend (1 ed.). Oxford.ISBN978-0-19-183391-5.OCLC988166861.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  7. ^Nordsieck, Wolfram (2017)."France".Parties and Elections in Europe.
  8. ^"The Political groups of the European Parliament".European Parliament.Retrieved2022-02-12.
  9. ^abcTom Lansford (20 March 2014).Political Handbook of the World 2014.SAGE Publications. p. 488.ISBN978-1-4833-8626-3.
  10. ^abcPierre, Bréchon (2011),Les partis politiques français,La documentation française, pp. 129–154
  11. ^Un responsable d'Europe Écologie claque la porteArchived2013-04-30 at theWayback MachineLe Point,7 December 2010
  12. ^Cantonales: la gauche boucle les négociations dans la douleurL'Express,22 March 2011
  13. ^Primaire écolo: Joly gagne avec 58,16%Le Figaro,12 July 2011
  14. ^Les principaux points de l'accord PS-EELVLe Monde,16 November 2011
  15. ^Les Verts votent pour une participation à un gouvernement Hollande,Le Figaro,8 May 2012
  16. ^Wayne C. Thompson (24 July 2014).Western Europe 2014.Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 132.ISBN978-1-4758-1230-5.
  17. ^"Élection européenne 2014".france-politique.fr.Retrieved15 October2016.
  18. ^Willsher, Kim (28 June 2020)."Greens surge in French local elections as Anne Hidalgo holds Paris".The Guardian.Retrieved9 July2020.
  19. ^à 12h54, Par Julien Duffé Le 23 octobre 2022 (2022-10-23)."Le député Aurélien Taché et son parti rejoignent EELV".leparisien.fr(in French).Retrieved2023-08-12.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ab"Projet 2012".eelv.fr.5 June 2012.Retrieved15 October2016.
  21. ^"Yannick Jadot se retire de la course à la présidentielle et rallie Benoît Hamon".Le Monde.Agence France-Presse. 23 February 2017.Retrieved20 April2017.
  22. ^"Morbihan - Législatives: Paul Molac, candidat du PS, des écolos et de l'UDB à Ploërmel - Le Mensuel du Golfe du Morbihan"(in French). Morbihan.lemensuel. Archived fromthe originalon 2013-10-21.Retrieved2013-10-21.
  23. ^"CARTE. La vague verte déferle sur les municipales: découvrez les villes remportées par EELV".BFMTV(in French).Retrieved2020-07-16.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Ecologists&oldid=1254900400"