Nearly 70% of voters in Indre-et-Loire went to vote on Sunday, June 30, in the first round of the early elections called by Emmanuel Macron, who dissolved the National Assembly on June 9 after a surge by the RN in the European elections. This turnout is much higher than in the last election of this kind in 2022, when abstention rates were often above 50%.
What will happen on Sunday, July 7th for the second round? It’s a safe bet that the mobilization will remain strong because there is something at stake… even suspense. We take stock of the posters announced…
1st constituency (Tours, except the North-West of the city): Environmentalist Charles Fournier is in a very favorable position after collecting 45% of the votes in the first round, or 10,000 more ballots than the presidential candidate Benoist Pierre who is at 23%. The two men will be in a duel on July 7 because the RN candidate Lisa Garbay did not collect 12.5% of the votes of registered voters, the threshold necessary to stay in the race.
2nd constituency (Amboise, Bléré, Vouvray, Château-Renault, etc.): the outgoing deputy Daniel Labaronne from the presidential camp will face the National Rally candidate Corine Fougeron, elected in Nazelles-Négron. Coming 2nd, the Macronist could nevertheless benefit from the postponement of the votes of the left-wing candidate Christelle Gobert from La France Insoumise and who chose to withdraw in an attempt to block the far right which exceeds 35% in this territory. The match looks to be quite close…
3rd constituency (St-Pierre-des-Corps, Saint-Avertin, Chambray, Loches, Montbazon, etc.): it is the only territory in the department where we should have a triangular. Despite her 3rd position and the national instructions from the left, Sandra Barbier announced that she wanted to remain in the second round. The candidate from La France Insoumise was however left behind by the outgoing deputy Henri Alfandari who finished in the lead ahead of Jules Robin, candidate supported by Eric Ciotti’s party and the National Rally. Only 449 votes separate the Macronist from his right-wing opponent, both close to 33%, while Sandra Barbier is only at 25.5%. She nevertheless hopes for a comeback and guarantees, in any case, the biggest suspense of July 7 in Touraine.
4th constituency (Joué-lès-Tours, La Riche, Chinon, etc.): This is the only territory in the department where we already know that there will be a new MP after this election. The Macronist Fabienne Colboc, elected in 2017 and re-elected in 2022, is able to stay in the second round but has chosen to withdraw because she came in 3rd position behind the National Rally of Jean-François Bellanger and the candidate of the New Popular Front Laurent Baumel (already a MP in this sector from 2012 to 2017). It is therefore towards him that the representative of the presidential camp calls to raise her voice, to try to block the National Rally. The socialist is therefore starting stronger, even favorite.
5th constituency (Tours-North-West, St-Cyr-sur-Loire, Fondettes, Langeais, etc.): this is the area where the RN achieves its best score, its departmental manager François Ducamp having exceeded 35%. The outgoing MP Sabine Thillaye from the MoDem, therefore from the presidential camp, is in 2nd position and will replay the 2022 match where she won against the far right. To make her task easier, the communist Marina Coccia agreed to withdraw despite her score allowing her to remain in the second round. It thus respects the instructions of the New Popular Front asking the personalities who came 3rd to leave their place to try the bet of the anti-RN republican front. Given the high score of the party of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, the final result is very uncertain and will depend on participation as well as vote carryovers.
Note that it will only be Tuesday at 6 p.m. that we will have confirmation of the posters for the second round, i.e. after the closing of the registration counters at the Indre-et-Loire prefecture for applications for the second round. Candidates announcing their retention may withdraw before then, and vice versa.
