Legislative 2022 in Seine-Saint-Denis: the three outgoing LREM deputies want to believe it

No post presidential election effect like 2017. The three outgoing deputies of La République en Marche (now Renaissance) had then conquered their constituency in the wake of Emmanuel Macron’s victory. Five years later the breath of novelty has died down and it is the dynamics of Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s score in the first round of the presidential election that is being felt.

Voice reserves on the right

“It’s meendais to the results of the first round, observes Stéphane Testé, deputy La République en Marche (LREM, now Renaissance) of the 12th district. With 23.86% of the vote in the first round, he was left behind by Jérôme Legavre (30.83%), former secretary general of Force Ouvrière and secretary general of the Independent Workers’ Party (POI) invested by Nupes.

“I remain confident because I am above the 22% threshold that I had set for myself given the high level of abstention. There is a large part of the voters who still need to be mobilized and many local elected officials gave me their support“, nevertheless points out the former socialist deputy mayor of Clichy-sous-Bois. Among them, Pierre-Yves Martin and Jean-Michel Genestier, various right mayor of Livry-Gargan and Raincy.

In the 8th district, Sylvie Charrière can also count on the support of figures from the local right: Jean-Michel Bluteau, mayor of Villemomble and Claude Capillon, former mayor of Rosny-sous-Bois. However, in the first round, the outgoing MP had tackled the strategy which had made her the main target of the right. “The first round is over. Of course I’m a little disappointed, but I’m realistic. We have an asset, it is the voice reserves on the right. In the first round, Carvalhinho took part of the votes for the Macron presidential vote. We are able to make a nice comeback“, she enthuses. Last Sunday, opposition councilor Fatiha Keloua-Hachi beat her by just over 3,500 votes.

Dam on the far left

The outgoing MP for the 3rd constituency, Patrice Anato, recognizes the good scores achieved by the Nupse. “I think he’s already had his fill of voices“, he relativizes, referring to Thomas Portes. The latter came out on top in the first round with 34.6% (against 25.49%).

To win, Patrice Anato intends to mobilize the abstainers, but also to take advantage of the support Brigitte Marsigny and Christian Demuynck, Les Républicains mayors of Noisy-le-Grand and Neuilly-Plaisance. He also refutes that this rallying could induce confusion among voters: “There was a time of confrontation in terms of ideas. But now it is clearly against the threat of the far left that we must position ourselves.” He does not mince his words. “I call on people who did not come to vote last Sunday to wake up because there is a real danger for democracy.”

“Nobody owns the votes”

“These anti-Republican attacks do not take and do not live up to the political stakes“, sweeps Thomas Portes who believes that “them support expressed by right-wing elected officials is not surprising: the reality is that Macron is a right-wing president. But no one owns the votes. The score I obtained reflects that obtained by Mélenchon in April.“

Pour Fatiha Kelou-Hachi, “there is a deep desire for change which has been growing since the presidential election, but which was already there“, recalling the defeat of the left in the municipal elections in Rosny-sous-Bois by a short head. “We want to pull the campaign down by stirring up fear, but we should rather become aware of people’s expectations, especially in working-class neighborhoods where I am struck by the hope that is expressed.“

“I think there is some concern among macronists“, notes Jérôme Legavre who wants to be cautious all the same, pointing out “the very high level of the abstention rate. In Clichy-sous-Bois three out of four voters did not vote. You have to look at the very concrete problems of housing, transport. But many people took a hit on the head after the presidential election.”

Reminder of the results of the 1st round in the three constituencies

3rd constituency (#circo9303): Gournay-sur-Marne, Neuilly-Plaisance, Neuilly-sur-Marne, Noisy-le-Grand

8th district (#circo9308): Gagny, Rosny-sous-Bois, Villemomble

12th district (#circo9312): Clichy, Coubron, Livry-Gargan, Montfermeil, Le Raincy, Vaujours