“We couldn’t do it anymore”: split in the NPA after its fifth congress

The New Anti-Capitalist Party (NPA) split in two at the end of its fifth Congress this weekend, the current of historical figures Philippe Poutou and Olivier Besance did not take note of their political disagreements with the defenders of a line judged too “sectarian”. “.

“We had been in a situation for a long time in which there were several parties within the party, with various orientations and various militant practices, and we who took the initiative of the separation, we could no longer, we no longer wanted to continue like this,” he explained on Sunday in press conference Philippe Poutou, candidate of this small far-left party in the last three presidential elections.

“We decided to continue the NPA acting on the separation with these groups,” the delegates of their current, that of platform B, which had collected 48.5% of the votes of the 2,000 party members before leaving, specified in a press release. East. congress. .

“Neither a front of tendencies and organizations, nor a political sect”

“It is never lightly that we arrive at this political observation, but it is a fundamental political choice, that of reconnecting with what was the initial state of mind of the NPA in 2009 in a context that has obviously changed completely,” added the other. presidential candidate Olivier Besancenot (2002 and 2007).

The party spokesperson advocated “a will that is both radical and unitary”, always “from an anti-capitalist perspective” but with greater “availability” to LGBT, feminist and environmental struggles.

With this separation, “the NPA has chosen not to become a front for tendencies and organizations, nor a political sect,” he added, without commenting on the rapprochement with the left, and in particular with the LFI.

“Irresponsible”

With Platform C, which obtained 45.3% of the vote, there is now “a fight for legitimacy” around the NPA, spokeswoman Christine Poupin admitted during this press conference, while noting that her current B is “the most numerous” and claimed “historical and political legitimacy”.

“The spokesmen Olivier Besancenot and Philippe Poutou break with the NPA. An irresponsible act!”, denounced on Sunday on Twitter one of the spokesmen for platform C, Gaël Quirantewhich calls in particular for the support of the youth sector of the NPA.

“Everywhere, the committees, the federations, the branches of the NPA must unite and take a clear position,” he demanded.

In a press release published on Sunday night, the supporters of platform C assure that “the NPA will continue despite the departure of its main spokespersons” and indicate that “as of Monday” “they will bring together all the authorities of the NPA “.