En Commun

En Commun is a French environmentalist and social political party founded in 2020 by deputies Barbara Pompili, Hugues Renson, and Jacques Maire, who were previously affiliated with La République En Marche.^[1][2] Originating as an internal current within the Macronist parliamentary group to advocate for stronger ecological and social policies, it evolved into an independent entity emphasizing sustainable development, social justice, and pragmatic environmental reforms aligned with the presidential majority.^[3][4] The party gained prominence through Pompili's appointment as Minister of Ecological Transition from 2020 to 2022, during which she oversaw initiatives on biodiversity protection and energy transition, though it has remained a minor force, facing electoral setbacks and internal challenges amid France's fragmented left-ecologist spectrum.^[5][4]

History

Founding in 2020

En Commun was established on May 23, 2020, as an association within the La République En Marche (LREM) parliamentary group, initiated by 46 deputies seeking to advance ecological priorities amid the post-COVID-19 economic recovery planning.^[6] The founding figures included deputies Barbara Pompili, Hugues Renson, and Jacques Maire, who positioned the group as a platform for integrating environmental concerns with social solidarity and progressive economic policies inside the presidential majority.^[1] This creation followed a tribune published on May 22, 2020, in L'Obs, where the initiators outlined their intent to influence the government's stimulus measures toward sustainability.^[7] The association emerged in response to perceived shortcomings in LREM's ecological engagement, particularly as France prepared its recovery plan after the initial pandemic lockdowns, with founders emphasizing the need for "effective ecology" through concrete legislative advocacy rather than rhetorical commitments.^[6] By late May 2020, membership had expanded to 56 deputies, reflecting broader dissatisfaction among centrist lawmakers with the majority's pace on green transitions.^[8] Pompili, Renson, and Maire assumed vice-presidencies, structuring En Commun to operate as a "left pole" within LREM, focusing on issues like biodiversity protection and just transitions without breaking from the Macronist framework.^[9] In October 2020, En Commun evolved from an internal association into a distinct political party, enabling greater autonomy in policy promotion and alliances, though it retained alignment with the presidential majority.^[10] This restructuring, announced by Pompili and Renson, aimed to amplify the group's voice on ecological and social reforms, including during Pompili's subsequent appointment as Minister of Ecological Transition on July 6, 2020.^[11] The founding underscored tensions within the majority over balancing economic recovery with environmental imperatives, positioning En Commun as a bridge between centrist governance and greener ambitions.^[3]

Governmental roles and policy influence (2020-2022)

Barbara Pompili, a co-founder of En Commun, was appointed Minister of Ecological Transition on July 6, 2020, in the government of Prime Minister Jean Castex, serving until May 18, 2022.^[12] In this role, she oversaw portfolios including energy, transport, housing, water resources, biodiversity, and circular economy initiatives, positioning En Commun as a key ecological voice within the presidential majority.^[13] The movement's 45 deputies in the National Assembly, who joined En Commun upon its 2020 launch, provided parliamentary support for government environmental priorities, distinguishing themselves from more oppositional green factions like Europe Écologie Les Verts.^[14] En Commun's influence manifested in the steering of the Climate and Resilience Law (Loi Climat et Résilience), adopted on August 22, 2021, which Pompili presented to Parliament. The legislation incorporated 9 of the 149 recommendations from the 2019-2020 Citizens' Convention for Climate, focusing on measures such as limiting artificial soil sealing to 2,000 hectares annually by 2031 (down from 17,000-20,000 hectares yearly), banning advertising for fossil fuel vehicles from 2022, and prohibiting short-haul domestic flights where train alternatives under 2.5 hours exist.^[15] These provisions aimed to curb emissions contributing to France's 2030 target of a 55% reduction from 1990 levels, though implementation relied on local zoning plans and faced delays due to decentralized enforcement.^[15] Under Pompili's ministry, policy emphasized accelerating renewable energy deployment, with €30 billion allocated in the 2020 France Relance recovery plan for green investments, including €2.5 billion for energy renovation of buildings and €4.9 billion for sustainable mobility like rail and cycling infrastructure.^[15] En Commun advocated reducing nuclear dependency to 50% of electricity mix by 2035 per the 2015 Energy Transition Law, opposing extensions of reactors beyond 40 years and new builds during this period; Pompili publicly stated in September 2021 that "the debate on new nuclear is not relevant today" amid capacity challenges.^[16] This stance aligned with movement priorities but drew criticism from industry groups for risking energy security, as France's nuclear fleet provided 70% of electricity in 2020-2021 while facing maintenance outages.^[17] En Commun also shaped biodiversity efforts, including the 2021 National Biodiversity Strategy update targeting zero net artificialization by 2050 and enhanced protections for marine areas, expanding Natura 2000 sites.^[15] However, policy influence waned by late 2021 amid coalition tensions, with En Commun deputies occasionally abstaining or amending bills to push for stricter measures, reflecting internal debates on balancing ecological ambition with economic recovery post-COVID-19.^[18] Overall, the period marked En Commun's integration into executive environmental governance, prioritizing regulatory tools over fiscal overhauls.

Post-legislative challenges and realignments (2022 onward)

Following the 2022 French legislative elections, En Commun encountered substantial parliamentary hurdles as the Ensemble alliance, encompassing its members, secured only 245 seats in the 577-seat National Assembly, falling short of an absolute majority and necessitating reliance on case-by-case alliances, particularly with Les Républicains, to enact policies. This fragmented landscape complicated the advancement of En Commun's pragmatic environmental initiatives, such as biodiversity protection and energy transition measures, which often clashed with fiscal conservatism or opposition from the left-wing NUPES coalition, leading to diluted compromises or stalled bills. En Commun deputies remained integrated within the Renaissance parliamentary group, preserving unity in the presidential majority but highlighting internal tensions over the pace of ecological reforms amid broader governmental priorities like pension reform and immigration controls in 2023. The energy crisis exacerbated these dynamics, with En Commun advocating for a balanced approach incorporating nuclear power alongside renewables, positioning it against more ideological green factions while defending against accusations of insufficient ambition from environmental NGOs.^[19] In response to these constraints and the further erosion of Ensemble's seats to approximately 160 following the 2024 snap elections, En Commun pursued realignments toward greater structural independence, announcing on December 11, 2024, its evolution into a standalone political party with nationwide committees for territorial rooting, while committing to remain within the majority as an internal "spur" for debate. Led by President Philippe Hardouin and vice-presidents including Barbara Pompili, Hugues Renson, and Jacques Maire, the party claimed over 500 paying members and more than 50 parliamentarians, aligning with Macron's "common house" framework to amplify diverse voices ahead of future contests. Mireille Clapot's appointment as vice-president underscored efforts to refresh leadership, with ongoing activities including budget proposals on ecological planning submitted in July 2025.^[3][20]

Ideology and Policy Positions

Core environmental principles

En Commun promotes an ecological approach centered on pragmatic transition strategies that integrate environmental imperatives with technological innovation, economic viability, and democratic participation, distinguishing itself from more radical environmentalist factions by rejecting degrowth models in favor of growth-compatible reforms. The party supports maintaining and expanding France's nuclear fleet—contributing over 70% of the nation's electricity as of 2023—as a reliable, low-carbon energy source essential for achieving net-zero emissions without undue reliance on intermittent renewables.^[21][3] This stance aligns with the party's endorsement of the European Green Deal while advocating for adaptations that preserve industrial competitiveness, as evidenced by its backing of new EPR reactor constructions announced in 2022.^[22] Key policies emphasize circular economy principles, including the 2020 Anti-Waste Law, which mandates reduction of single-use plastics, extended producer responsibility, and repairability indices for consumer goods to minimize waste and resource depletion. En Commun has actively opposed deregulation of air quality measures, such as the suppression of low-emission zones (ZFE) in urban areas, arguing these tools are critical for curbing particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions from transport, which account for approximately 40% of urban air pollution in France.^[23] On biodiversity, the party supports national strategies like the 2020-2030 Biodiversity Plan, focusing on restoring ecosystems, protecting 30% of terrestrial and marine areas by 2030, and combating species decline through incentives for sustainable agriculture rather than prohibitive bans. The group's principles also incorporate preventive and precautionary approaches to climate adaptation, as outlined in the 2021 Climate and Resilience Law, which limits soil artificialization to 2,000 hectares annually by 2031 and promotes energy-efficient building renovations to reduce heating emissions by 40% in priority areas.^[24] This framework prioritizes empirical outcomes over symbolic gestures, with En Commun critiquing both far-left exit-from-nuclear proposals and far-right rollbacks of environmental regulations as empirically unsubstantiated risks to long-term resilience.^[11][23]

Energy and economic approaches

En Commun supports a pragmatic energy strategy that integrates nuclear power with renewable sources to ensure France's energy sovereignty and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Founder Barbara Pompili, as Minister of Ecological Transition from 2020 to 2022, emphasized the need for multiple low-carbon options, stating that "nuclear or renewables, we must have several options" to diversify the energy mix amid global challenges.^[25] This position reflects a shift from earlier anti-nuclear views held by Pompili during her time with Europe Écologie-Les Verts, toward recognizing nuclear's role in reducing emissions, despite acknowledging its waste management burdens as a "heavy legacy."^[26] The group backs the government's plan to construct six to fourteen new EPR reactors, viewing nuclear as compatible with ecological goals when paired with efficiency measures and renewable expansion, such as offshore wind and solar.^[27] On renewables, En Commun advocates accelerating deployment while addressing intermittency through nuclear baseload, as outlined in Pompili's oversight of the Multi-Annual Energy Program (PPE) updates, which target 33% renewable electricity by 2028 and prioritize sobriety to curb demand growth.^[28] This approach contrasts with anti-nuclear ecologists by rejecting a full phase-out, instead promoting nuclear as a bridge technology for decarbonization, with decisions on new builds informed by 2050 neutrality scenarios presented in 2021.^[29] Economically, En Commun frames its policies around a "transformation écologique, sociale, démocratique et européenne," prioritizing reindustrialization in low-carbon sectors to generate jobs and growth without endorsing degrowth models.^[18] The group aligns with the France 2030 investment plan, which allocates €54 billion to green technologies, including €8 billion for nuclear innovation, positioning ecological transition as an economic opportunity through public-private partnerships and support for strategic industries like hydrogen and batteries.^[30] This entails fiscal tools such as carbon pricing and incentives for circular economy practices, aiming to reconcile environmental imperatives with competitiveness, as evidenced by Pompili's promotion of biodiversity credits and sustainable supply chains during her ministerial tenure.^[22] Critics from more radical ecological factions argue this risks greenwashing industrial dependencies, but En Commun maintains that pragmatic integration of market mechanisms drives verifiable emission reductions over ideological purity.^[31]

Social and foreign policy stances

En Commun integrates ecological imperatives with social solidarity, advocating for policies that ensure a "just transition" for workers affected by environmental shifts, such as retraining programs in sectors like energy and agriculture to mitigate job losses from decarbonization efforts.^[20] The party emphasizes democratic participation in social decision-making, positioning itself against extremes by promoting inclusive welfare measures that link sustainability to reduced inequalities, though specific proposals on education, healthcare, or family policies remain broadly aligned with the centrist coalition's framework of balanced social spending and labor market reforms.^[20] On immigration and social issues, En Commun counters far-right narratives by stressing solidarity without detailed standalone positions, reflecting its roots in moderate ecology.^[20] In foreign policy, En Commun supports multilateralism with a focus on ecological diplomacy, as demonstrated by its members' involvement in international climate negotiations and European environmental coordination.^[32] The party endorses the two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, stating that "the recognition of the two states, Israel and Palestine, will allow an end to the war."^[20] Aligned with France's presidential majority, it backs robust support for Ukraine against Russian aggression and deepened EU integration on security and defense, while prioritizing global pacts like the Paris Agreement to address climate-driven international tensions.)^[33]

Organization and Leadership

Key founders and figures

En Commun was co-founded in May 2020 by three deputies from La République En Marche: Barbara Pompili, Hugues Renson, and Jacques Maire, who acted as its initial "copilotes" and led the formation of the association within the LREM parliamentary group to advance ecological priorities.^[6] The group initially comprised 46 founding members focused on integrating environmental policies into the presidential majority's agenda.^[6] By October 2020, the association transitioned into a formal political party, retaining the same core leadership.^[1] Barbara Pompili emerged as the most prominent founder, having previously served as a deputy and held roles in Europe Écologie–Les Verts before aligning with Emmanuel Macron's movement in 2016; she was appointed Minister for Ecological Transition in July 2020, a position she held until May 2022, during which she oversaw policies on biodiversity and nuclear energy.^[1] Hugues Renson, a Paris deputy since 2017, contributed to the party's organizational development, including its emphasis on social ecology.^[1] Jacques Maire, representing Oise, focused on economic and energy transitions, co-authoring early party platforms.^[4] As of late 2024, party leadership included president Philippe Hardouin, a business executive, with vice-presidents Pompili, Renson, and Maire, reflecting continuity among founders despite electoral setbacks.^[3] Mireille Clapot, a former Drôme deputy active in digital policy, joined as an additional vice-president, expanding the leadership's expertise in technology and ecology.^[34] These figures positioned En Commun as a centrist ecological force, though internal challenges have tested their influence post-2022.^[4]

Party structure and membership

En Commun maintains a centralized leadership structure typical of smaller French political formations, led by a president and a small executive team. The party is currently presided over by Philippe Hardouin, a business executive, with three vice-presidents: Barbara Pompili, Hugues Renson, and Jacques Maire.^[3] This configuration emerged from its initial setup as a parliamentary association within La République En Marche, where it federated around 56 parliamentarians focused on advancing ecological policies.^[35] Originally established in April 2020 as an internal current to promote environmentalism within the macroniste majority, En Commun formalized its independence as a distinct political party in December 2024, while retaining alignment with the presidential bloc.^{[3] [36]} The organization's internal operations emphasize coordination among its parliamentary members and local representatives, without evidence of extensive regional federations or grassroots committees akin to larger parties.^[37] Membership in En Commun is limited, reflecting its niche positioning as an ecological voice within the centrist spectrum. In October 2020, the party claimed support from about 500 adherents, predominantly parliamentarians, civil society figures, and activists committed to pragmatic environmental reforms.^[1] Subsequent growth has been constrained, with the formation described as a "small party" facing operational challenges, including rejected financial accounts in early 2025, which may hinder broader recruitment efforts.^[4] Adhesion typically requires alignment with its statutes promoting sustainable development and majority compatibility, though specific enrollment figures post-2020 remain undisclosed in public records.^[6]

Electoral Performance

National legislative elections

En Commun has participated in French national legislative elections exclusively through alliances with the presidential majority, rather than fielding independent candidates on a party label. In the 2022 elections, held on 12 and 19 June, the party integrated into the Ensemble coalition alongside La République En Marche (now Renaissance), Horizons, the Mouvement Démocrate, and other centrist and ecological groups. This coalition secured 245 seats in the 577-seat National Assembly, achieving a relative majority but falling short of an absolute majority of 289 seats amid a turnout of 46.23% in the second round.^[38][39] En Commun contributed through affiliated candidates, resulting in at least four deputies affiliated with the party sitting in the Renaissance group during the ensuing legislature.^[40] The party's strategy emphasized ecological realism within the macroniste framework, avoiding competition with larger coalition partners to maximize influence on environmental policy. However, internal tensions emerged, with some En Commun figures expressing reservations about the majority's parliamentary dynamics prior to the vote. No separate vote share or candidate tallies were recorded for En Commun, as nominations occurred under the unified Ensemble banner to consolidate centrist and pro-European votes against the left-wing NUPES alliance and the National Rally.^[41] In the 2024 snap legislative elections, triggered by President Macron's dissolution of the Assembly following European Parliament results, En Commun again aligned with Ensemble (rebranded as Ensemble pour la République). The elections occurred on 30 June (first round) and 7 July (second round), yielding a hung parliament where Ensemble captured around 168 seats amid low turnout and strategic voting dynamics favoring the left-wing New Popular Front. En Commun's specific contributions remained marginal, with no independent breakthroughs reported, reflecting the party's limited organizational scale—estimated at fewer than 1,000 members—and reliance on coalition infrastructure for candidate selection and campaigning. This outcome underscored challenges for smaller ecological factions within the majority, as Ensemble's seat loss highlighted voter fragmentation and the dominance of larger blocs.^[42][43]

European Parliament elections

En Commun did not field an independent list for the European Parliament elections held on June 8 and 9, 2024, in which France elected 81 members.^[44] As a movement launched in 2022 with limited organizational resources, it focused instead on influencing broader left-wing strategies, with founder François Ruffin publicly advocating for a unified candidacy across leftist parties to consolidate votes against centrist and right-wing lists. Despite these efforts, which included calls to bridge divides with ecologists and socialists, no such alliance materialized, resulting in fragmented left-wing competition.^[45] Ruffin, a deputy affiliated with La France Insoumise (LFI), aligned En Commun's support with LFI's "Union populaire" list, headed by Manon Aubry, emphasizing themes of social justice, ecological transition, and opposition to neoliberal EU policies.^[46] He participated in campaign events, such as a public meeting in Auxerre on April 11, 2024, to promote the list's platform.^[47] The Union populaire list, drawing from LFI and allied groups like the Parti de Gauche, secured 2,448,703 votes, equating to 9.89% of the national vote share—an increase of 3.6 percentage points from LFI's 2019 performance but trailing the socialist-led list of Raphaël Glucksmann (13.83%).^[48] This result translated to 9 seats in the European Parliament, with Aubry retaining her position as co-chair of The Left group.^[44] The elections highlighted challenges for smaller movements like En Commun, which lacked the infrastructure for a standalone campaign amid France's proportional representation system requiring at least 5% for seats. En Commun's indirect involvement through LFI underscored its tactical integration into larger leftist coalitions, though the vote split—exacerbated by competing ecologist (5.50%) and socialist lists—limited overall left-wing gains to 28 seats combined.^[49] No En Commun members were elected directly, maintaining the party's zero representation in the 2024-2029 parliamentary term.^[44]

Representation and Influence

Current officeholders

En Commun does not hold cabinet positions in the French government appointed on October 5, 2025, under Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, which comprises ministers primarily from Renaissance, Horizons, and other coalition partners without representation from the party.^{[50] [51]} The party's parliamentary presence remains marginal, integrated within the Ensemble pour la République group in the National Assembly following the 2024 legislative elections, where Ensemble secured approximately 160-170 seats collectively but En Commun contributed minimally as a small ecological component.^[52] Leadership transitioned after Philippe Hardouin's departure in November 2022, with no publicly prominent national officeholders affiliated exclusively to En Commun as of late 2025 amid its alignment with centrist formations like La Convention.^[53]

Legislative and coalition roles

En Commun maintains a limited but strategic presence in the National Assembly, with its members integrated into the Ensemble pour la République parliamentary group, which comprised approximately 160 deputies following the 2024 legislative elections.^[54] The party's deputies focus on advancing ecological policies within this centrist bloc, emphasizing pragmatic environmental measures compatible with economic growth. Barbara Pompili, a co-founder, secured re-election as deputy for the 2nd constituency of Somme in July 2024, positioning her to influence debates on sustainable development.^[55] As part of the Ensemble coalition since its formation in 2020, En Commun supports the executive's legislative priorities, particularly in areas like energy transition and biodiversity protection, often aligning votes to secure passage of bills in a fragmented parliament.^[56] During Pompili's tenure as Minister for Ecological Transition from July 2020 to May 2022, the party played a direct role in enacting the Climate and Resilience Law on August 22, 2021, which imposed binding targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reinforced coastal protection measures.^[57] This ministerial experience underscored En Commun's coalition utility in bridging environmental advocacy with macroniste governance. In the post-2024 hung parliament, where no bloc holds a majority, En Commun's affiliation enables case-by-case participation in cross-party negotiations to sustain minority governments, as seen in efforts to counter motions of no confidence from the New Popular Front and National Rally.^[54] The party's small footprint—estimated at one to three deputies—amplifies its influence through specialized amendments on green economy initiatives, though it has faced challenges in maintaining cohesion amid broader coalition strains under Prime Ministers Michel Barnier and Sébastien Lecornu in 2024-2025.^[58]

Criticisms and Impact

Achievements in ecological advocacy

Barbara Pompili, founder and prominent figure of En Commun, served as Minister of Ecological Transition from July 2020 to May 2022, during which the party aligned its advocacy with pragmatic measures to advance France's environmental goals. A key accomplishment was the adoption of the Climate and Resilience Law on August 24, 2021, which translated proposals from the Citizens' Convention for Climate into enforceable policies. This legislation includes 305 articles addressing soil artificialization limits to curb urban sprawl, mandates for active transport modes like cycling and walking, enhanced energy efficiency standards for buildings, and restrictions on fast fashion to reduce waste.^[59] The law aimed to align France with its Paris Agreement commitments by targeting a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 relative to 1990 levels, though implementation has faced scrutiny for enforcement gaps. En Commun's platform emphasized "realistic ecology," influencing ministerial initiatives such as accelerated deployment of renewable energy infrastructure, including offshore wind projects that added over 1 GW of capacity planning during Pompili's tenure.^[60] The party also supported biodiversity protections, building on Pompili's prior role as Secretary of State for Biodiversity, by advocating for integrated policies in the National Biodiversity Strategy, which prioritized habitat restoration and species conservation amid ongoing agricultural pressures.^[32] These efforts contributed to France's reporting of incremental progress in EU environmental reporting, with circular economy measures promoting resource efficiency and waste reduction targets embedded in national frameworks. However, independent assessments note that while legislative frameworks advanced, actual emission reductions lagged behind targets, with 2021 data showing a 4.5% drop from 2020 but still above pre-pandemic levels.^[61]

Critiques of policy realism and economic effects

Critics from more radical environmental groups have argued that En Commun's emphasis on "policy realism"—a pragmatic integration of ecological goals with centrist economic liberalism—results in insufficient ambition, compromising transformative change for short-term political alignment within the macroniste majority. For instance, during her tenure as Minister of Ecological Transition, Barbara Pompili, a key figure in En Commun, oversaw the adoption of only about 10% of the proposals from the Citizens' Climate Convention, with many measures diluted to accommodate economic interests, drawing accusations of greenwashing from organizations like Greenpeace.^[62] This approach has been faulted for prioritizing feasibility over causal urgency, as evidenced by Pompili's own prior critiques of the Macron government's ecological shortcomings before joining the cabinet in 2020.^[63] Internal dissent has highlighted tensions in this realism, with co-founder Philippe Hardouin resigning from En Commun's presidency in November 2022, citing irreconcilable differences with government policies that he viewed as diverging from the party's ecological principles.^[53] Such critiques underscore a perceived opportunism, where realism serves coalition maintenance rather than rigorous empirical prioritization of environmental imperatives. On economic effects, En Commun-aligned policies, particularly the 2021 Loi Climat et Résilience spearheaded by Pompili, have faced scrutiny for imposing constraints that hinder growth in sectors like construction and retail. The law's zero net artificialization (ZAN) target by 2050, aiming to halve soil artificialization by 2031, has been projected to limit territorial economic strategies, potentially reducing land availability for development and exacerbating housing shortages amid rising prices.^[64] Industry groups criticized the measure for risking job losses in building trades and commercial zoning, with early implementations showing slowed urban projects without commensurate biodiversity gains.^[65] While proponents, including Pompili, claimed the green transition via France Relance's €30 billion ecological allocation would generate jobs in renewables, empirical assessments indicate mixed outcomes: renewable sector employment rose modestly to around 300,000 jobs by 2022, but offset by transitional costs in traditional energy and agriculture, contributing to inflationary pressures on energy and materials.^[66] These effects reflect a causal disconnect, where realistic compromises yield incremental environmental benefits at the expense of broader economic dynamism, as noted in debates with degrowth economists who argue for decoupling growth from ecology altogether.^[67]

Controversies over opportunism and internal divisions

Critics from within the broader ecological movement have accused En Commun's founders of opportunism for shifting from radical environmentalism toward alignment with Emmanuel Macron's centrist agenda, prioritizing access to power over uncompromising green policies.^[68] Barbara Pompili, a co-founder and former Europe Écologie-Les Verts (EELV) deputy, left that party in September 2015 alongside François de Rugy and Jean-Vincent Placé, citing irreconcilable differences over alliances with the Socialist Party; this move was seen by EELV loyalists as a betrayal to pursue ministerial ambitions under Macron.^[69] As Minister of Ecological Transition from July 2020 to May 2022, Pompili supported measures like the extension of nuclear reactor lifespans and pesticide authorizations, drawing fire from purist ecologists who labeled such compromises as evidence of diluted principles in exchange for governmental influence.^[68] En Commun's formalization as a party in October 2020, evolving from a faction within La République En Marche, amplified these charges, with detractors arguing it represented a tactical absorption into the macronist bloc rather than genuine ecological innovation.^[11] The party's endorsement of Macron's 2022 reelection bid, despite his mixed environmental record—including reliance on nuclear energy and delayed fossil fuel phase-outs—further fueled perceptions of pragmatic expediency over ideological purity, as articulated by figures like Yannick Jadot, who contrasted En Commun's approach with EELV's anti-nuclear stance.^[70] Internal divisions emerged over the party's degree of autonomy within the presidential majority. In July 2022, En Commun's political council unanimously voted against integrating into Renaissance's leadership structures, signaling tensions with the dominant macronist party and a push to preserve distinct ecological branding amid fears of subsumption.^[71] This decision reflected broader debates among members on balancing coalition loyalty with criticisms of government policies, such as insufficient ambition on biodiversity protection, though the small scale of En Commun—lacking a robust grassroots base—limited overt fractures.^[72] By 2023, these strains contributed to a strategic reorientation toward regional ecological advocacy, but without major public schisms or defections reported as of late 2025.