Najat Vallaud-Belkacem to replace Mathias Vicherat?

For several weeks, Sciences Po Paris has been in the news, not only for the search for a new director following the resignation of Mathias Vicherat, but also for student mobilizations in support of the civilian population of Gaza. This dual dynamic opens up key questions for the future of the institution and its direction.

The resignation of Mathias Vicherat, which took place on March 13, left a vacancy at the head of the Paris Institute for Political Studies, as well as the National Foundation of Political Science. This decision, motivated by the desire to preserve the institution, followed his referral, as well as his former partner Anissa Bonnefont, to the criminal court for a case of domestic violence. Since then, Jean-Bassères has been acting as interim manager since March 26. The latter has already announced that he will not run for the headship of Sciences Po.

However, although almost two months have passed since this resignation, a replacement has still not been found. Despite discussions and establishing a list of potential candidates, no agreement was reached on the selection of the next director. Among those considered, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, the former Minister of National Education under François Hollande, particularly attracts attention. After graduating from Sciences Po Paris, her candidacy is being seriously considered even if she has not yet confirmed her interest in the position according to the French press.

This possible candidacy of Najat Vallaud-Belkacem comes in a particularly tense context. Indeed, Sciences Po is the scene of student demonstrations in support of the civilian population of Gaza, mobilizations that challenge the institution’s position in relation to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The appointment of a political figure such as Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, who has expressed support for the Palestinian cause in the past, raises questions among faculty about the future direction of the establishment.

The Palestinian issue seems to have become a recruitment criterion for the management of Sciences Po. While some support a management that embodies the values ​​of justice and international solidarity, others fear that it will further polarize the debate and threaten the institution’s academic neutrality.

In this context, the possible candidacy of Najat Vallaud-Belkacem crystallizes the tensions and problems faced by Sciences Po between the need to find a new leader capable of leading the institution in a context of crisis and the desire to preserve its academic and intellectual integrity. openness, the choice of the next director is of crucial importance for the future of the establishment.

While debates and speculations continue, the official announcement of Mathias Vicherat’s successor is eagerly awaited, both by the student body and outside observers. At stake is not only the future of Sciences Po, but also its ability to embody the values ​​of academic excellence and pluralism for which it is known.