Very popular in Cagnes-sur-Mer. That’s the least we can say. Already in January, during his New Year’s greetings to the population, many Cagnes residents had made the trip to see Bryan Masson, deputy of the 6the constituency. A driving force of the National Rally (RN), the outgoing MP came out on top in the first round on Sunday evening. He came out on top in all the municipalities in his constituency (1).
In Cagnes-sur-Mer, he showed a large lead over Laurence Trastour-Isnart (LR), who has been a municipal councillor in the Renoir estate for twenty-six years. 49.44% against 29.71%. Crushing.
A former candidate in the Saint-Laurent-du-Var municipal elections in 2020, where he sat as an opposition municipal councilor for two years, can Bryan Masson aim for the town hall of Cagnes-sur-Mer? Does he have the will?
“The hypothesis is becoming clearer”
An acquaintance of the young deputy of the 6the constituency share: “I asked him some time ago if he was interested in the town hall of Cagnes. He remained very vague and didn’t make a decision.” An elected official refutes the hypothesis: “It’s a rumor, he’s obsessed with Saint-Laurent. And it’s a mistake. When you’re a young MP, you don’t resign to become mayor. And the national and municipal elections are completely different, that doesn’t mean he’ll do well.”
Another local elected official raises: “The Masson hypothesis for the town hall of Cagnes is becoming clearer. And for good reason: who is best established? Joseph Ségura in Saint-Laurent-du-Var, who is around sixty years old and who was re-elected in the first round [54,57%]? Or Louis Nègre, 79 years old, who is at the end of his political life? Bryan Masson would therefore have his chances at Cagnes. But normally, the RN protégé expected to go to the front in 2026 is Cyril Tribuiani. “Maybe he will give up his place… In politics, everything is possible. And all blows are allowed.”analyzes Jean-Paul Perez, municipal councilor of the Alliance of the Right, in Cagnes-sur-Mer. He also draws up: “Bryan Masson’s victory is in reality Louis Nègre’s defeat. This makes us think of future defeats: in the municipal elections for example. Nègre could lose to an RN candidate.” Another elected official from the local landscape considers: “If Cagnes turns RN, it is not by chance. Bryan Masson and Cyril Tribuiani plough the ground every day, they are at all the events. It is the result of a lot of work that is done behind.” More “attention” another points out: “Bryan Masson should be sure of his move… He should choose his city carefully. It could be seen as a betrayal by many voters.” Cagnes-sur-Mer being the second city of the Metropolis, it would be “the most strategic” for the RN.
“He will have to be sure of his move”
However, victory would not be a given for Bryan Masson. One detail that is important: Louis Nègre has announced that he will return in 2026. Could he be dethroned? “Louis Nègre always agrees with Christian Estrosi, people don’t want that anymore”studies an elected official. “Then he lost Les Républicains, who no longer understand him. Local voters are demanding a real, marked right, not a soft right with Horizons, Renaissance, etc., in the middle.” Another observes: “Louis Nègre has no successor. He is obliged to run again. He is doing it to stop in the middle of the mandate and make a pass to Trastour. He knows very well that without that, she cannot win.”
For one of the elected officials contacted, the future of Cagnes would be linked to the potential victory of Eric Ciotti, Sunday evening: “If he comes back and the LR-RN union works in the Alpes-Maritimes, it would be a striking force for the municipal elections in 2026. I think that Louis Nègre will be kindly asked to leave his place, while keeping some of his majority, to install a younger person.”
1. The 6e The Alpes-Maritimes district includes the municipalities of Cagnes-sur-Mer, Saint-Laurent-du-Var, Villeneuve-Loubet, La Colle-sur-Loup and Saint-Paul-de-Vence.
He doesn’t close the door
Cheerful voice on the phone. Bryan Masson (RN) had reason to be happy, Monday morning, after his results in the legislative elections on Sunday evening (read elsewhere). And for him, there is no doubt: “My victory precipitates the questions about what will happen in 2026. We wonder what I am going to do. I am a danger for the Municipal elections and it is obvious that I am going to get involved at the local level.” But where? In Saint-Laurent-du-Var, as in 2020, or in Cagnes-sur-Mer? Mystery. “I am said to have a lot of ambition in both municipalities, but I have no line of sight for 2026. I recently discovered that a member of parliament can run as mayor in the municipality of his choice, in his constituency.” The field of possibilities is therefore open. But Cagnes being the second city of the Metropolis, it would be a strategic option. “My niche is the Métropole,” insists Bryan Masson, “it’s a local and national issue. I am a fierce opponent of Christian Estrosi and his management. Of course, I would like to get Cagnes and Saint-Laurent out of the clutches of the Métropole.” At the Cagnes town hall, it’s a flat out no. “We’ve heard about it, it’s nothing new. But I don’t respond to rumors, each day is enough trouble of its own…”, says Louis Nègre, mayor of Cagnes-sur-Mer. For Laurence Trastour-Isnart, we must remain cautious: “I don’t give any credence to ‘hearsay’, and the political context is very fluid.” Indeed, each person interviewed recalled: the municipal elections are in two years, which is “an eternity in politics.”
