After the municipal elections, another battle begins: community elections. The great maneuvers began on the 1st of Réunion’s plateau last night. The attitude of Maurice Gironcel, the mayor of Sainte-Suzanne will be scrutinized
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The left takes on colors compared to 2014. Two municipalities symbolize this pendulum movement: St.Paul where Huguette Bello and her PLR (For Reunion) take over the town hall to the right, beating the Bénard-Sinimalé hitch and St. Andrew where Jean-Marie Virapoullé fails to keep his father’s place and where Joé Bedier will be the new mayor.
We must also add Cilaos where the former PCR Jacques Técher takes over the town hall from the outgoing right mayor Paul Franco Techer.
The left therefore recovers three municipalities and keeps four: St Denis where Ericka Bareigts the socialist deputy bars Didier Robert, St. Benedict where even without a label the new mayor Patrice Selly, former assistant to Jean-Claude Fruteau, defines himself as a man of the left, Sainte-Suzanne where the last PCR mayor, Maurice Gironcel, keeps his seat just like Michel Vergoz in Sainte-Rose.
The right limits the case
Political observers may also consider that Juliana M’Doihoma’s victory in Saint Louis is a bit like that of Didier Robert since it belongs to its regional majority. Buffer also remains on the right with the re-election of André Thien-Ah-Koon. Much more confusing situation in l’Etang-Salé where the outgoing right-wing mayor Jean-Claude Lacouture only wins with one voice against Mathieu Hoareau. It is possible that this election will be replayed, it is in any case that the supporters of the unlabeled candidate hope.
A La Plaine-des-Palmistes, Johnny Payet wins the election with the support of the outgoing right-wing mayor Marco Boyer. A close victory for the one who was successively centrist and supporter of Marine Le Pen, the president of the National Rally.
The other big sensation in the East is Bras-Hosts: one of the figures of the Reunionese right Daniel Gonthier lost to the centrist Jeannick Atchapa. Two municipalities remain in the center right: Saint-Leu with Bruno Domen and Eric Ferrère at Avirons. Finally the ex-ecologist Vanessa Miranville retains her seat at The possession.
The battle of the inter-municipalities has started
It is still too early to say which majorities will emerge during this third round which will take place in the coming weeks, after the installation of the mayors next week. One thing is certain: the battles and alliances behind the scenes have already started because the stakes are high. It is generally the mayor or one of his deputies of the largest municipality who presides over its intermunicipality: André Thien Ah Koon mayor of Le Tampon for the CASUD (Southern Agglomeration Community), and Michel Fontaine, mayor of Saint-Pierre for the CIVILS (Intercommunal Community of Solidarity Cities) should keep their seats.
At TCO (West Coast Territory Agglomeration Community) Joseph Sinimalé outclassed by Huguette Bello will give way, probably to an elected official from Saint-Paul. To the CIREST (Communauté Intercommunale Réunion Est), Jean-Paul Virapoullé could have hoped to keep his seat if his son had won in Saint-André but the cards are reshuffled with the victory of Joé Bedier and the defeat of Daniel Gonthier in Bras-Panon.
Finally, and this is the most complicated in the north, the battle for the CINOR announces tense: Gérald Maillot, who presided over the Intercommunal Community of the North of La Réunion as elected official of Saint-Denis, had stopped the rotating presidency with Sainte-Marie and Sainte-Suzanne. The elected officials of these two communes could therefore ally with the opposition of Saint-Denis, in this case Didier Robert to retain this rotating presidency. Negotiations are underway and will also have to incorporate the influence of Alexandre Laï-Kane-Chéong, who received a third of the vote in Sainte-Suzanne.
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