IT STAYS BETWEEN US The indiscretions of the week

An agreement (without) surprises? There are only a few months left for party headquarters and potential candidates to put themselves in working order for the 2026 municipal elections. In Nîmes, war on the Right has already been declared. Between the teams of Franck Proust and Julien Plantier, potential successors to Jean-Paul Fournier, anything goes. Those around them are scrutinized, those elected in support have no interest in making a mistake in the coming weeks. Especially since the low blows machine is already activated and should claim its first victims very soon. But the Right, which is tearing itself apart, could end up getting along. On Julien Plantier's side, we are convinced that this is the only possible scenario. Thus, his team, which is growing day by day, plans to impose a meeting on Franck Proust quickly. Because the official announcement of the candidacy of the first deputy mayor of Nîmes is imminent, according to our information. The month of December is on everyone's minds. Thus, its supporters hope that Nîmes families will be able to talk about it between the Yule log and New Year's Eve. Wishful thinking? What could make Franck Proust change his mind, he who would ultimately consider going it alone? A solo application with supporting arguments. The president of the Agglomeration has been walking on water for months. His political experience speaks for him. And he has serious support even within the municipal majority even though he does not spend his life there. His record also at the head of the Metropolis is rather good and, as indicated in the corridors of the Coliseum, he still has more under his belt for the whole of 2025 with several good news which will come gradually, like that of the seven new commercial lines at the airport. No, what could perhaps tip the scales according to certain elected officials is the casting carried out by the National Rally. Who could harm the chances of the head of the LR list. Julien Sanchez, the former mayor of Beaucaire, now an MEP, must still convince Marine Le Pen to accept her renunciation of Nîmes. If he were to miss his turn, it is a national personality who could be sent there. A name is circulating, that of Sébastien Chenu. The vice-president of the RN would be a working hypothesis. But his ties to the North of France could force his parachuting. Just like that of a candidacy stamped by the new party of Marion Maréchal Le Pen, supported by the RN. The latter traveling to Nîmes next week will allow him to take the temperature. And to assess potential candidates? In any case, between an already well-established union of the Left with Vincent Bouget at its head and, at the other end, the nationalist party motivated one year before the presidential election, what would be the space for the Right and the Center ? “ Franck Proust has all of this in mind and above all, something even more worrying: a feeling of possible “disengagement” among voters in the face of a team in place for more than 20 years. The Nîmes may want to turn the page on Fournier and his allies », Analyzes a political observer. Given these hypotheses, the Republicans will certainly not be able to afford the luxury of two face-to-face candidacies. The agreement is therefore inevitable… But who will break first?

L’ultimatum final ? The presence of the Director General of Services (DGS) at the meeting of elected officials organized by Julien Plantier remained in the throat of Franck Proust and his allies in the City and the Agglomeration. But Christophe Madalle, despite the mayor's remark, fully assumes responsibility. He even went a little further in his thinking. If by chance Jean-Paul Fournier finally chose the boss of the Colisée to succeed him as a candidate, he could simply put himself on leave to mark his opposition. A the casualty of war for the mayor of Nîmes, but especially for Franck Proust. Who could then ensure the administrative management of the City? Jean-François Lheureux, the general director of Nîmes métropole services of course!

Who has the ear? Two personalities today have immense power: that of speaking in the ear of the mayor. Christophe Madalle, his DGS, who on the political level has always benefited from special attention from Jean-Paul Fournier, for more than 20 years. And Gerardo Marzo, his very special advisor. “ But what is happening today is more emotional than political. And in this game, it is Gerardo Marzo who has the upper hand », Explains a close friend of the mayor. Madalle is in reality gambling on his survival because he knows that with Proust, it is the end of his career in Nîmes after 2026… “ Gerardo Marzo on that side is quiet for a long time… », slips a municipal elected official.

High treason. As mentioned above, the initiative is imminent: Julien Plantier will officially announce his candidacy for mayor of Nîmes before the end of the year. “ He has no choice. The mayor will not decide for several months. He must take the risk now to be master of his destiny. For the first time in his life he's not afraid », assures a close friend of the first deputy. But what would then be the direct consequence? “ Jean-Paul Fournier will not be able to keep him, it would be high treason », thinks a friend of the mayor. “ Plantier has strengths. He will be able to weigh the immediate resignation of the elected representatives of the majority who are at his side », replies a close friend of the Nîmes elected official. But will these elected officials take this risk for the person concerned? When you go to war, you have to be sure to have people behind you…

The clock is ticking. Jean-Paul Fournier looks back on time. And time passes quickly. Only a few months left at the head of the city he loves above all. But today, his succession is causing turmoil among the municipal majority. Also, the mayor intends to set the record straight. That's good, next Tuesday, a meeting of the majority is planned to discuss the modification of the PLU. That’s when the boss of rue Dorée will speak. To first show that he is not dead. “ That there is always a captain on board so it would be good if elected officials stopped talking about him in the past tense », breathes a municipal councilor scandalized by the attitudes in both camps. Another added: “ Franck Proust's option suits him well because there is only time left for the mayor. And the boss of the Coliseum asks him to delay. Fournier, everyone knows, would like to decide only on the last day before the official launch of the municipal campaign… » It will more likely be by next summer…

Ride for who? Between the deputy for Culture, Sophie Roulle, and the mayor's special advisor, Gerardo Marzo, the understanding has not been very cordial for several weeks. Probably since Sophie Roulle set her sights on Julien Plantier, the first deputy. When they no longer spoke to each other, the two personalities decided to explain themselves once and for all. But the arguments of both have not completely dispelled the misunderstandings. “Sophie Roulle spat on Julien Plantier a few months ago. She had even asked during a meeting at the Agglo de Nîmes not to be next to him. This reversal did not please Gerardo Marzo who likes consistency in politics », we whisper in the corridors of the Metropolis. “ Sophie Roulle believes more in sincerity and in the project presented by Julien Plantier, it is her right. Why so much aggression ? », replies a close friend of the first deputy.

The first name. The Maia project, one of the flagship projects of the municipality of Bagnols, will make it possible to cross the Cèze on a footbridge in complete safety and with gentle mobility. The work, which will begin soon, is estimated at 4 million euros, financed by various stakeholders including the Gard Rhodanien Agglomeration. The inauguration planned for the end of 2025 will thus offer an alternative to the Robert Schuman bridge used by vehicles. This relevant initiative which gives pride of place to solutions to combat the all-car approach raises questions about a single aspect: the name of the project. Information obtained, the future Maia footbridge takes its name from the first name of the granddaughter of the mayor of Bagnols sur Cèze, Jean-Yves Chapelet. “He had brought his granddaughter to a meeting on this project and when she came back, she had designed the footbridge », Explains a municipal source. Sometimes it all hangs by a thread. Or in our case, a little girl…

Change for Roman Week. For several days, the cascade of team departure announcements responsible for Roman spectacles in the arenas question. While Edeis Romanité won the new market, concerns are growing for 2025. According to our information, this is not the case. The delegate would have entrusted the keys to the show to the famous stuntman Mario Luraschi who had already designed the spectacular scenographies of the equestrian stunts for last summer's show. He should also take charge of next spring's performances. To be continued quickly, the City of Nîmes has an appointment in the coming days to find out more…

A legendary concert. After their visit in 2017, the German group Scorpions will return to Nîmes in 2025 according to our information. Eight years later, the arenas will resonate to the sound of famous songs like Breakout, Big city night, Make it real a fantasy or Wind of change, Still lovin you, etc. Not yet official, the arrival in Nîmes of Scorpions will undoubtedly mark the 2025 edition of the Nîmes festival, also now a legend…

The Club, back tomorrow. After a week's break due to the All Saints' Day holidays, the TV show Le Club Objectif Gard is back in doubles every day, from Monday to Wednesday. In the Club Midi, at 12:30 p.m., we will receive on Monday November 4, the prosecutor of Alès Abdelkrim Grini; Tuesday, Xavier Mouret, the president of the Beaucaire club, victorious in the French Cup for Nîmes Olympique; and Wednesday, Pierre Martin, the boss of the French Building Federation in Gard. In the evening, at 6 p.m., still live, Bernard Clément, the mayor of Domessargues will come and testify about his breast cancer. Tuesday, Bernard Angelras, vice-president of Nîmes métropole, delegate for the Environment, waste collection and treatment, will announce the reduction in the tax on household waste. Finally, on Wednesday, it is Richard Tiberino, elected to the City and the Agglomeration, departmental councilor and above all president of the Republicans who will answer our questions. Be on time…