Nîmes New Mayor: First Actions & Power Transition

Nîmes, France – Vincent Bouget, newly elected mayor of Nîmes, began his mandate Monday by meeting with municipal employees and initiating preparations for the transfer of power. Accompanied by Amal Couvreur, who is slated to become first deputy mayor, Bouget visited the city’s “Ateliers” – workshops – to express his administration’s “consideration, respect and confidence” in the city’s workforce, according to his campaign team.

The visit to the Ateliers, beginning at 8:00 AM, marked a swift start to Bouget’s term following the historic victory of the left-wing coalition on Sunday, March 22nd. Bouget’s Nîmes en commun list secured the mayoral office, defeating both the right-wing candidates and the Rassemblement National, according to reports.

Following the meeting with municipal staff, Bouget and his team moved to City Hall for initial discussions with the administration. Pierre Jaumain, a leading figure in the Gard department’s Socialist party, engaged with the director general of services to coordinate the handover process. A formal transfer of power is scheduled for Friday, March 27th, at 6:00 PM during a municipal council meeting to be held at the Palais des Congrès.

Bouget’s Monday schedule also included a working lunch with members of his future staff and a public appearance scheduled for 3:00 PM, where he will meet with residents starting from the Petite Bourse area of the city.

The victory of Bouget and the left-wing coalition represents a significant shift in Nîmes’ political landscape. Bouget, a communist, leads a coalition that excludes La France Insoumise (LFI), a detail noted in reports of the election results. The new administration faces the immediate task of establishing a functioning municipal council and addressing the needs of the city’s residents and employees.