Romainville : citizens in the driving seat

Prior to the municipal elections in 2001, a support committee was started for the Communist mayor of Romainville who had been disowned by her party. The committee put pressure on the Communist Party for the mayor to remain the Communist candidate, but this did not work out. As a result, the committee decided to create its own electoral list. Of the thirty or so candidates standing with the mayor, some were Green party members, some Communist party defectors, and many were ordinary people. Only three people had already been elected representatives. The committee's manifesto, which was the result of consultations with the inhabitants, was based on participative democracy. Following a stormy campaign, they were victorious. However, the euphoria was quickly replaced by disillusion. The stark reality of Utopian ideas about certain methods of functioning, personal clashes, and power struggles led to the break-up of the municipal majority. Should one conclude that it is impossible to be in politics without being a member of a party, even though there is disillusion with these parties among a growing number of citizens ?