Ecologist party members may vote between December 10 and December 13 to decide the party's strategy for the upcoming presidential election. Two main options are being considered: either running an independent Ecologist candidate or supporting another candidate from a different party. A motion proposing this decision will be discussed on Sunday, September 20, during an unusual federal council meeting held via videoconference. According to the document, Marine Tondelier, the Ecologist candidate for the presidential election, will continue to represent the party's goals and priorities in the campaign until the members vote on the next steps. If the motion is approved, the referendum vote will take place from December 10 at 9 a.m. to December 13 at 9 a.m. However, the text of the motion is still open to amendments. The proposed motion has drawn criticism from some members who oppose Marine Tondelier. They argue that the accelerated timeline and the use of a videoconference format limit meaningful discussion, comparing it to a "registration room." Critics also note that an in-person Federal Council meeting was originally scheduled for October 3 and 4, which they believe would have allowed for more thorough debate. Additionally, some are critical of Marine Tondelier being presented as the Ecologist candidate for the presidential election, even though she was chosen by party members as the candidate for a left-wing and Ecologist primary in 2021. That initiative ended after the Socialist Party (PS) decided to pursue a more limited process focused on the social-democratic bloc. Some Ecologist members, like deputy Sandrine Rousseau, are pushing for the party to quickly align behind Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the Unsubmissive movement, who has extended an invitation for collaboration. They argue that delaying a decision may limit opportunities for cooperation. Others, such as Senator Yannick Jadot, prefer aligning behind Raphaël Glucksmann, a prominent left-wing figure. Meanwhile, some party members are advocating for an independent Ecologist candidacy, despite Marine Tondelier currently polling around 5% in public opinion surveys. The document to be voted on by the Federal Council states that, by the time of the December election, one or more "contact and negotiation teams" will be formed to explore potential alliances with other left-wing parties and work toward a shared political project.