In Strasbourg, Marine Tondelier tries to revive the union of the left

On the lawn of the University of Strasbourg, the leader of the Ecologists, Marine Tondelier, swapped her green jacket for trousers of the same color, a way of declining the favorite outfit that has made her successful since the beginnings of the New Popular Front (NFP). "I am in great shape," she warned, by way of introduction to the Ecologists' Summer Days, which are being held from August 21 to 23. With less than two years to go before the presidential election, Marine Tondelier has one obsession: to deny the idea that "the left is returning divided" and that a joint presidential candidacy would be a pipe dream .

To set the tone, she began by having her guests in the front row applaud, the former NFP candidate for Prime Minister, Lucie Castets, and her left-wing partners, the leaders of the Socialist Party (PS), Olivier Faure, of Génération.s, Benjamin Lucas, and of L'Après, Clémentine Autain. All came to support the united approach. "We must take action, the time has come to get down to practical work," pleaded ^Ms. Autain . "Without unity," the left cannot make it to the second round, continued Mr. Faure, who predicted, if this hypothesis were confirmed, its near-disappearance from the political scene.

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