Outgoing MP running for re-election, the Minister of Public Accounts (Renaissance) came out on top in the 1re Gironde constituency on Sunday. He must face the NFP and the RN in the second round of voting.
Le Figaro Bordeaux
His label as Minister of Public Accounts in Gabriel Attal’s government did not necessarily give him an advantage. Coming in first with 38.31% in the 1re Gironde constituency, Sunday, Thomas Cazenave will not escape a three-way race in the second round of voting. He will have to face Céline Papin (NFP) who is only 3,047 votes behind him and Bruno Paluteau (RN), who has doubled his score in two years. “I have defied the odds. I came out on top and I consider that 38% is a good score in a difficult national context”the outgoing MP said positively.
Having come out on top in this constituency with the same score as in 2022, the forty-year-old is confident for next Sunday. He hopes to pocket the majority of votes from Béatrice Pomarel (4.22%), the Divers centre candidate, now disqualified. “I am convinced that the voters who chose her do not identify with either the RN or the NFP. We are close to them in politics and values and I say this to all those who refuse this deadly opposition.”. A possible reserve of 3143 votes, to which the candidate for his own succession will not be able to add those of the LR. Because following a discreet agreement with Nicolas Florian (LR) – former mayor of Bordeaux – and Patrick Bobet (LR), mayor of Bouscat, no candidate from the non-Ciottist branch presented himself against him in the first round.
NFP hot on his heels
The environmentalist Céline Papin (NFP) is well aware of the difficulty of her opponent. Coming in second place with 34.23% of the votes, Pierre Hurmic’s deputy – who considers “that there is no risk that the RN will come out on top in the second round” – wants to believe in his luck. “I think it is possible to win this constituency and make up for a loss of votes. In any case, it is necessary: Thomas Cazenave will not remain a minister because there will no longer be a presidential majority within a week and in such a configuration, he would not be a bulwark against the RN within the National Assembly.”she tackles. The “unprecedented configuration” and the “dynamic” NFP could also be enough to make a difference in the week, she said.
Having withdrawn from this duel, the RN candidate, who won 21% of the votes, or 15,957 votes behind Thomas Cazenave, is not giving up. “We have more than doubled our score in two years (9.6% in 2022), it’s an excellent surprise”rejoices Bruno Paluteau the day after the first round of voting. Carried by “the navy blue wave”he appeals “to LR voters, sovereignists, patriots and supporters of Éric Ciotti who did not vote or voted badly” to turn the tide in his favor.
The 2026 municipal elections in the background?
In the ballot in the constituency “the rightmost in Bordeaux”, According to Pierre Hurmic’s entourage, the outgoing MP, who does not hide his ambitions for the City of Bordeaux in 2026, could see his future in Bordeaux darken in the event of defeat. “He makes most of his voices in Bouscat, but doesn’t make it in Bordeaux”berates his opponent on the municipal council, Céline Papin, who is hot on his heels in the commune with only 684 votes behind.
“I did not make a mistake in my election and I am not municipalizing the legislative elections. Some seem to see this as an opportunity to beat not a moderate candidate (in the legislative elections, Editor’s note)but rather a future rival (for municipal elections)»retorts the latter. Before lashing out: “Isn’t the first fight of this election to beat the RN? That’s my goal, and I’m best placed to do it.” As for the municipal elections, the local opposition representative assures “think about it” et “prepare for it” even if he doesn’t have “did not announce his candidacy”. And for good reason: allied for this election with Nicolas Florian (LR), who is also aiming for the Bordeaux town hall in 2026, Thomas Cazenave hopes to be in a position “to call for a political reconfiguration with a new Republican majority” within the National Assembly by then.
Eric Pouillat (Renaissance), in an unfavorable position
Outgoing MP, elected with 51.85% of the vote in a duel against Nupes in 2022, Éric Pouillat is caught between the NFP and the RN, two years later. Coming second on Sunday with 32.24% of the vote, the Macronist candidate is beaten by the former PS MP, Marie Récalde, candidate this year under the NFP banner. She won 35.24% of the votes cast. Jimmy Bourlieux (RN), also qualified with 27.07% of the vote, or 12 points more than in 2022, is the third candidate in this three-way race.
