After more than 165 withdrawals have already been announced, the starting line for the second round of the legislative elections will be known this Tuesday, July 2 at 6 p.m., and should, year after year, confirm the formation of a “republican front” against the National Rally.
Enthusiasm is certainly not there, but withdrawals of Macronist or left-wing candidates are taking place in most constituencies where at least three candidates were qualified and where the Le Pen party is in a position to win. Most, yes, but not all constituencies.
In Provence, two candidates are still resisting this wave of withdrawals: in Aix-en-Provence, Anne-Laure Petel of the presidential majority, Ensemble and in Salon-de-Provence, Alexandre Beddock of the New Popular Front. Despite pressure, notably from Benoît Payan.
Anne-Laure Petel: “I am in a better position to win”
“This morning, I will go to the prefecture to present my application.“. Anne-Laurence Petel (Ensemble), who came in 3rd place on Sunday June 30, in the 14th constituency of Bouches-du-Rhône, confirms that she will remain in the 2nd round.”I am in a better position to win“, she said on France Bleu Provence. As a reminder, the socialist, candidate of the New Popular Front, Jean-David Ciot, came in second place with 29.48%. Behind Gérault Verny, under the LR-RN banner (31.65%) but ahead of the outgoing MP of the constituency since 2017 (28.91%).
She believes she is the candidate.the best placed“because the only one, according to his reasoning, who can recover the votes of LR whereas”The new popular front won most of its votes in the first round” and therefore has no more margin. She also states that “Gabriel Attal and Stéphane Séjourné (leader of his party)” his “have given their consent“.
Tuesday July 2, after the PS boss, Olivier Faure, who urged her to “not to compromise in the face of the threat of the extreme right“, it was the mayor of Marseille, Benoît Payan who reacted on X: “If you chose to hold on, you would add dishonor to defeat.“, he wrote to the candidate. “The Prime Minister supports @jdciot’s candidacy and not yours.” The Human Rights League (Aix-en-Provence section) also called on the candidate to withdraw: “What is at stake in this second round is no longer a political divide between left and right. The foundations of our Republic are under threat, our choices must be commensurate with this situation.”
Alexandre Beddock: “It will be the result of a joint decision”
Alexandre Beddock, the La France insoumise (LFI) candidate chosen to represent the New Popular Front (NFP), is still leaving the suspense hanging. He came third on Sunday evening, June 30, with 20.07% of the votes cast in the 8th constituency, which includes the communes of Salon-de-Provence, Berre-l’Etang and many villages in the Pays salonais.
Alexandre Beddock did not respond clearly to Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s national call to step down in order to block the RN: “We will make our decision tomorrow (Editor’s note: Monday, July 1). We have thought about it together and it will be the result of a joint decision because LFI does not govern alone.”
If he withdraws, it will be in favor of Jean-Marc Zulesi of Ensemble. But both men have a tumultuous past. Benoît Payan, the mayor of Marseille also reminded Alexandre Beddock of his responsibilities: “In the 8th constituency of Bouches-du-Rhône, I ask the rebellious candidate to withdraw immediately, also reacts the mayor of Marseille. I give my fullest support to Jean-Marc Zulesi (Ensemble) in the fight he is leading against the National Rally and for the Republic.“
