“This result is not a surprise. It is the confirmation of the residents’ vote in the European elections*”, says Jean-Paul Cozien. The mayor of Edern weighs his words the day after the first round of the early legislative elections. In his commune, the National Rally came out on top with 30.78% of the vote, a unique case in the first constituency of Finistère. A score that raises questions in light of the first round of the 2022 legislative elections where the party chaired by Jordan Bardella had won a timid third place, with 16.02% of the vote, depriving it of a second round.
“People don’t feel listened to”
“It’s a vote of protest, of despair. People don’t feel listened to. They feel that their daily problems are not taken into account,” explains Jean-Paul Cozien, as he pushes open the door of the town’s brand new health center that has just opened its doors. A doctor, an osteopath and two nursing practices have taken up residence there. “A second doctor should join them next January.” On the other hand, the two dentist practices are still empty. “The whole of Pays glazik is waiting for this specialty,” the first elected official gets annoyed by the difficulty in finding them. Health, but also purchasing power are issues that the people of Édernois are facing. “People wonder how they are going to make ends meet. Yet these are people who work, courageous people.”
“Afterwards, in the voting booth, everyone does what they want”
At the Le Rancart bar, in the small village of Gulvain, it’s aperitif time. Tongues aren’t loosened easily. “It’s true that we usually talk about elections when there are some, but not here,” remarks a regular leaning on the bar. “The result of the first round of the legislative elections, for me, is a vote of sanction rather than a vote of support for the ideas of the RN. It’s time to put people in power who know what’s happening on this earth,” confides his neighbor on the stool. “They’re trying to force everything through. This isn’t normal,” adds the first, criticizing the policy of the government in power. But he won’t say more about the importance of the RN vote in his town. “Afterwards, in the voting booth, everyone does what they want, we’re not here to see,” concludes the first, gulping down his kir.
* During the last European elections, the inhabitants of Edern voted 29.42% for Jordan Bardella (RN), far ahead of Renaissance (17.26%) and the PS (15.15%).
