Will the results of this first round of legislative elections have consequences on the politics of Béziers?
For a first election without the support of the RN which had become an adversary, the “Ménard” candidacy was disrupted this Sunday evening, on the occasion of this first round of the legislative elections in the 6th constituency of Hérault.
Emmanuelle Ménard, outgoing MP, although re-elected with nearly 70% of the vote in 2022, barely 2 years ago, only came second, behind the RN candidate Julien Gabarron who beat her by more than 8,600 votes in the territory and by some 1,800 votes in the commune of Béziers alone. This citadel which seemed impregnable, because padlocked by Robert and Emmanuelle Ménard, therefore had a flaw… Since the election of the mayor of Béziers, in 2014, such a disappointment had not been observed.
Next municipal council on July 10
The divorce between the far-right party and the Ménards, made official a few months ago following the various public positions taken by the mayor of Béziers but also the votes of the deputy in the Assembly, has ultimately cost dearly. In the process, this surprise dissolution has had sharp consequences.
Is this the beginning of a restructuring of local politics? Will this new situation and the demonstration of the strong commitment of Béziers voters to the RN have an impact for the future, and this while the municipal elections are already taking shape? Some political opponents hope so. Even if Robert Ménard’s strong imprint on the territory cannot be swept away… The latter has also just announced that, contrary to what he had always said, he would stand again in the next municipal elections.
Robert Ménard: “I sleep soundly for the municipal elections”
“There was a Le Penist wave all over Francebelieves Robert Ménard. We could have hoped that we would resist better by highlighting the action we are taking. Emmanuelle is among the 10 most present deputies in the Assembly, the city has changed, we are the first city to have put uniforms on schoolchildren […] We have an assessment that seems interesting to me. The problem is that people did not vote for Gabarron but for Mr. Bardella to be Prime Minister. I’m disappointed, I regret it. But it is a parenthesis in local life which will be closed as quickly as it opened next Monday.” What about municipal elections? For Robert Ménard: “Those who want to will come forward, I wish them good luck. The people of Béziers will decide.” And to continue to defend this freedom of tone, outside the political apparatus, which nevertheless contributes to a certain isolation. “Perhaps, but we are ready to take this risk because we think it is a new way of doing politics. It is the price of freedom. We do not take orders from anyone other than the Biterrois. I sleep soundly for the municipal elections.”
In the shorter term, three elected officials from Robert Ménard’s municipal majority are registered with the RN, Emile Fort, Yvon Martinez and Christian Sarkis. Until now, they have remained in this majority. What will they decide tomorrow? Note that the next municipal council of Béziers has been postponed to July 10.
