Communist deputy André Chassaigne has been chosen by the Nouveau Front Populaire (New Popular Front) as its sole candidate for the presidency of the National Assembly, an announcement he made himself from the Quatre-Colonnes slab of the Palais-Bourbon on Wednesday July 17. “We have the collective legitimacy to preside over this hemicycle,” asserted André Chassaigne on behalf of the NFP, pointing out that the left-wing coalition came out on top in the last legislative elections

The 74-year-old MP for Puy-de-Dôme intends to focus on “the social emergency”, noting that “France has been damaged”. He stressed that expectations are “enormously” high in the country today. André Chassaigne, who has been a member of the National Assembly without interruption since 2002, has made a name for himself through his commitment to raising the standard of small farm pensions.

Members of the National Assembly will elect their president this Thursday from 3pm, in a secret ballot. André Chassaigne will be competing with outgoing Macronist president Yaël Braun-Pivet, RN deputy Sébastien Chenu, Horizons candidate Naïma Moutchou, LR politician Annie Genevard and centrist Charles de Courson, representing the independent Liot group.

To be elected President of the National Assembly, an absolute majority of votes cast in the first or second round is required. However, given the heterogeneous composition of the hemicycle, a third round will probably be necessary.