Ultramarines, territories … A 10th group launched at the National Assembly

A 10th political group was launched on Tuesday in the National Assembly, bringing together elected representatives from overseas, Corsican nationalists and centrists, joining the opposition, announced its co-president Bertrand Pancher. With 15 members – the minimum number to form a group – it is called “Liberties, independents, overseas, territories”. The name “UTiles” (Ultramarines, territories, insularities, freedom, equality and solidarity) had previously been mentioned.

This group includes several elected members of the Freedoms and Territories group of the previous legislature, of which Bertrand Pancher was already president, as well as three elected Corsican nationalists. Several deputies from the UDI, a center-right formation which does not have enough elected members to find a separate group, joined it. One of them, Christophe Naegelen, co-chairs the new group. Several overseas elected officials such as the ex-LREM Olivier Serva (Guadeloupe), Estelle Youssouffa (Mayotte), Stéphane Lenormand (Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon) or Nathalie Bassire (Réunion) are also part of it.

“We will discuss the reforms one after the other”

Bertrand Pancher assured the press “wait a few other” deputies in this group which is “in the opposition”, but also “wants to move our country forward”. “We will discuss the reforms one after the other” and the group “will contribute to our being able to run our country in a more balanced way”, he promised.
The deputies of the group “choose to join a republican, free, independent and responsible opposition”, adds a press release, pleading for a “peaceful democracy”.

Socialist deputy David Habib, critic of the left alliance Nupes, did not join “Liberties, independents, overseas, territories”. Failing to form a group, he announced for his part the formation of a center-left “pole” with five other left-wing elected officials, who will sit among the non-registered. David Habib has given himself “until September” to convince other deputies to join in order to form a group in due form.