This second round of the municipal elections, largely shunned by the voters, has however spouted a green branch of the political tree
The French newspapers and tabloids all agree to proclaim, this Monday, June 29, 2020, the victory of the Greens during this second round of municipal elections in France. However, it was not won: according to figures communicated by Ipsos, among the 16.5 million voters called to vote in the 4820 municipalities, they are also numerous not to have moved. The participation rate is established between 40% and 41%, against 62.1% in 2014. This abstention record fits not only in the context of a global pandemic, but also in an atmosphere of general “relaxation”, where many French people went on vacation, taking advantage of the deconfinement.
Emmanuel Macron a “Expressed concern over the low turnout in municipal elections”, immediately communicated the Élysée, following the results. Many elected officials of all stripes however believe that it is a problem deeper than the fear of the virus. “Crisis after crisis, our country is fracturing, mistrust is building up. It is up to us to recreate trust, “ declared in particular the president LR of the Senate, Gérard Larcher.
Green freshness
So, if we have to remember a color at the end of this second round, it is the green shade. Environmentalists win in Lyon, where Grégory Doucet, at the head of an EELV-PS-PCF-LFI coalition, leads with more than 50% of the vote before Yann Cucherat. Same story in Bordeaux: Pierre Hurmic leads the way before the outgoing mayor LR Nicolas Florian; in Strasbourg: Jeanne Barseghian won 42.5% of the vote. Other cities won: Tours, Annecy, Besançon, but also Poitiers. This uprising of the Greens could redefine the fighting strategy of the left, well dispersed since the election of Emmanuel Macron.
“This evening is historic. For 40 years, environmentalists have never been able to influence so much the course of things and to be able to initiate tomorrow the ecological transition in social justice in so many cities ”exclaimed the national secretary of EELV, Julien Bayou, at the microphone of RTL.
Is there a jolt of conscience on the part of the French? Once again, this very worrying global health crisis could be the most “favorable” factor for a breakthrough by the environmental party. At a time when the health of our planet is at the heart of debates, politics is taking its toll. Case to follow?
After this green victory, Emmanuel Macron will intervene this Monday morning, by welcoming the members of the Citizens’ Convention on the Climate at the Elysée Palace. Together they will have to bring ” strong responses (…) up to the challenges and expectations, ” indique le government via l’AFP.
The PS resists, the RN takes Perpignan
In Paris, mayor Anne Hidalgo was re-elected, without much surprise at 49% of the vote. The PS also remains at the front of Lille, where Martine Aubry wins her 4th mandate against Stéphane Baly. Other cities like Nancy, Nantes, Rennes and Le Mans remain socialist. More to the right, the LRs keep Nice (Christian Estrosi) and Aix-en-Provence (Maryse Joissains-Masini). Their biggest defeat of this second round therefore remains in Bordeaux, where they however keep “a solid anchor”. Another match lost in Perpignan, where the Rassemblement National candidate Louis Aliot won the victory against outgoing mayor Jean-Marc Pujol.
“Perpigan is a symbolic victory, a real trigger, because we will also be able to demonstrate that we are capable of managing large communities,” said Marine Le Pen.
The LREM government, for its part, somehow assumes its share with the overwhelming victory of Edouard Philippe in Le Havre (almost 59% of the votes against PCF deputy Jean-Paul Lecoq). At the dawn of a reshuffle at the Elysée Palace, the Prime Minister has therefore already found his way out.
–
