There will indeed be a three-way race in the first constituency of Charente-Maritime. The environmentalist Jean-Marc Soubeste, candidate of the New Popular Front, has decided to maintain his candidacy. The idea of a withdrawal had been floating around for a while this Sunday evening. Coming second with 29.64% of the votes, behind the outgoing MP Olivier Falorni (45.64%), Jean-Marc Soubeste believes that the young RN candidate Emma Chauveau (22.65%), is not in a position to be elected next Sunday.
The idea of withdrawing was floating around on Sunday evening, what justifies your staying?
There are two main reasons. First, there is no danger of the National Rally, we are not in the Republic in danger, where we should withdraw for Emmanuel Macron’s candidate. We are in danger if we do not maintain ourselves, if we withdraw since it is the open door to the RN to win voters, to continue its establishment in the agglomeration. We believe, through our program and our actions, to be a bulwark against the National Rally.
Maintaining your candidacy is not a challenge to Olivier Falorni?
I have no accounts to render to anyone and no lessons to give to anyone. And I don’t like being lectured either. So I use Falorni’s words: “I am a free man.”
What exactly do you expect from this second round?
To continue what we managed to do during this shortened democratic time at the start of the campaign. In less than fifteen days, we have gained votes compared to 2022, we have more than 5,000 additional votes. We have won districts, we have found a popular vote turned towards the left and with hope in Mireuil, in Villeneuve-les-Salines. So we want to expand and consolidate, expand to districts of municipalities in the agglomeration, where we know there are real difficulties, precariousness, a feeling of isolation. And then consolidate our electorate in these districts of the city of La Rochelle.
La Rochelle is resisting the RN wave as best it can, but the dike is weakening?
Yes, it must question all political, associative and economic actors on the policies they are pursuing and of course, within the framework of a country which is today a little adrift and of which we do not really know if its president is still in control.
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: Jean-Marc Soubeste (NFP) maintains his candidacy){kind=link}