LEGISLATIVE Gard-Arles: political reactions

There will be a second round in five of the six constituencies of Gard. A match that will pit the National Rally against the New Popular Front each time. The same in Arles where during this first round of early legislative elections, Emmanuel Taché de la Pagerie (National Rally), outgoing MP, came first in all the communes of the 16th constituency of Bouches-du-Rhône. The latter is followed by Nicolas Koukas (New Popular Front), who will face him in the second round next Sunday.

Françoise Laurent-Perrigot, president of the Gard Departmental Council: “Our country, that of Human Rights and Republican Values, has chosen to place the extreme right at the head of this 1st round of legislative elections. This is also the case in Gard. It is a political earthquake that will forever mark our history. The National Rally is at the gates of power. However, given the stakes of this election, the almost 20 point higher participation in the 2022 legislative elections shows that everyone is aware of the historic moment we are experiencing. In the present circumstances, we must have only one emergency: to remove the danger from the National Gathering. We must do everything to prevent him from obtaining an absolute majority in the National Assembly on July 7. The results of this 1st round oblige us: everyone must take their responsibilities without hesitation, without qualms. This clearly implies supporting the best placed candidates against the RN. In Gard, I therefore call on Nicolas Cadène to vote in the 6th constituency, Michel Sala in the 5th constituency, Arnaud Bord in the 4th constituency, Sabine Oromi in the 3rd constituency and Charles Ménard in the 1st constituency.”

Jean-Paul Fournier, Mayor of Nîmes: “I would first like to salute the French people who strongly mobilized for this election. Given the very high stakes for the future of the Nation, they wanted to take their destinies into their own hands. On the national level, it is clear that the rise of the extremes is unprecedented. The traditional parties were unable to meet, once again, certain expectations of our compatriots. On the local level, I regret the elimination of our candidates from the 1st and 6th constituencies. By taking a risky and winding ridge line, they demonstrated courage and independence, which honors the Gaullist family. A family that will not die. For the second round, I will not give any voting instructions in Nîmes. It is up to the voters to make an informed choice. For my part, as I have already mentioned, I send the RN and LFI back to back. The RN, because this party remains driven by excesses and economic inconsistencies. LFI, because it is a clan of communitarian exalted people and there is a great risk of seeing Mr. Mélenchon and his friends enter Matignon. At this moment, while our political life is atomized, I am angry with a man, Emmanuel Macron, who has continued to weaken the traditional parties since 2017 and whose political work is now being revealed in broad daylight. In his castle, which has become a bunker, he can admire the breadth and finesse of his political genius…. History will judge.”

Nicolas Nadal, secretary of the socialist section of Nîmes : “The Nîmes placed the candidates of the Nouveau Font Populaire, Nicolas Cadene and Jean-Charles Menard in second position this Sunday. We have one week left to prevent the Far Right from making a grand slam on Nîmes. We can do it at provided that each of us remains mobilized and that the Popular Front becomes a Republican Front in order to obstruct the election of far-right deputies. We call for Ms. Rouverand to withdraw her candidacy for the first constituency of Nîmes like the one. said Mr. Colson in the 6th constituency. Not a single vote must be missing on July 7 for the Popular Front candidates. The Nîmes socialists will remain more mobilized than ever to support Nicolas Cadene and Jean-Charles Menard.

Alexandre Pissas, Mayor of Tresques, Vice-President of the Gard Departmental Council: “We became aware with horror of the results last night. In line with the announcements of Mr. Faure and Mr. Hollande, it is now a referendum next Sunday for or against the RN in power. We do not have the choice It is necessary that all the candidates who came in third place, withdraw and call to vote for the one who came in second place, even if it is an LFI candidate, a candidate of Emmanuel Macron or the Republicans. We cannot make a pact with the National Rally. I will therefore campaign for all those who come forward against the RN.