This Sunday, November 10, Jordan Bardella will be at a meeting in Tonneins, in Lot-et-Garonne, as part of his “permanent campaign” strategy. More than 2,000 people have already registered.
The essentials of the day: our exclusive selection
Every day, our editorial team reserves the best regional news for you. A selection just for you, to stay in touch with your regions.
France Télévisions uses your email address to send you the newsletter “Today’s essentials: our exclusive selection”. You can unsubscribe at any time via the link at the bottom of this newsletter. Our privacy policy
The La Manoque room in Tonneins risks appearing cramped this Sunday, November 10. “We are thinking about perhaps opening a second room”rejoices Sébastien Delbosq, departmental representative of the National Rally (RN). As part of its “permanent campaign”, Jordan Bardella will be at a meeting in Lot-et-Garonne, where he has not been for five years. “In 2019, we were in Buzet, there were 200 people and it was extraordinary. Today we see the extraordinary progress of Jordan Bardella and the National Rally”recognizes Sébastien Delbosq.
In the department, which placed two deputies of the National Rally out of three in the last legislative elections, the visit of the president of the party is on conquered ground. “We have excellent scores, we progress from election to election,” indicates the president of the RN.
However, the meeting was at the heart of a controversy on October 27. The meeting was initially organized in Marmande, but Joël Hocquelet, the socialist mayor, was fiercely opposed to it. A position “unlike what we see elsewhere”, according to party members. “It’s going well everywhere, we even almost went to Agen, even though the mayor is far from the convictions of the National Rally. We were rather shocked by the reaction of that of Marmande”deplores Sébastien Delbosq.
However, Jordan Bardella has chosen to continue fighting the campaign. “When you only meet voters during elections, they have the impression of hearing promises and being forgotten once the elections are over. We want to maintain this close bond on a daily basis in our offices or towing operations,” indicates Hélène Laporte, MP for Lot-et-Garonne and vice-president of the National Rally.
We fought to have this major event in Lot-et-Garonne.
Sébastien Delbosq,Departmental representative of the National Rally
A regular presence also maintained by the activists, who are delighted to know their work is praised. “Since the start of the school year, we have continued to hang out every weekend, going to the markets, talking about politics. The French are passionate about politics”says the departmental representative of the RN.
Far from big cities, this meeting is also part of the strategy of reaching out to “forgotten lands”. “This is the case of Lot-et-Garonne which sometimes becomes invisible between Bordeaux and Toulouse. We wanted to shine the spotlight on these territories,” explains Sébastien Delbosq.
Beating the countryside, more than the cobblestones of the cities, was already, during the last elections, the method adopted by Jordan Bardella's party. “We have always played on proximity by going to small towns. It’s usual for us to go to rural departments,” recalls Hélène Laporte.
The strategy also seems to be paying off, according to the regional branch of the National Rally. “It allows us to attract new members. We have since been able to attract new socio-professional categories such as teachers, employees, students, Sébastien Delbosq list. We maintain a base of diverse activists.”
Simple coincidence, the meeting of the president of the National Rally on these agricultural lands, the driving force behind the farmers' mobilizations in the winter of 2024, is being held a few days before the announced resumption of the movement. “The subject of farmers will obviously be raised”assures Hélène Laporte.
