In the 3rd constituency, a close duel is looming between Johnny Hajjar, outgoing deputy and Béatrice Bellay. An almost fratricidal duel since the PPM candidate has the support of the socialist party while his opponent is none other than the first federal of the Socialist Federation of Martinique.
Only 2,137 votes separate the two finalists of the first round. In a constituency dominated by Aimé Césaire and the PPM since 1945, the gap is small and opens the door to what could be a political earthquake.
Two supporters in the constituency
Especially since the challenger already benefits from several supporters from defeated candidates. Thus, Frédérique Dispagne, sixth in the ballot, indicated that she would choose a ballot in the name of the FSM candidate:
Personally, I want more than ever a profound change for our city, that we take each step towards the emancipation of minds, far from the clannish and partisan political practices that weigh down our city. I will vote for Béatrice Bellay who is in a position today to embody this renewal.
Béatrice Bellay received another significant endorsement. That of Francis Carole. A long-time opponent of the PPM in Fort-de-France, regularly qualified for the second round, the president of Palima positioned himself in favor of the candidate who beat him:
We know that in Fort-de-France there is a significant portion of the electorate that wants this transparency to be established, that democratic spaces to be opened up. Because it is very important, it is an important demand from the population. This is somewhat what we have worked towards for decades and we think that we must support this movement. This does not in any way mean a kind of repositioning under positions that are not ours, but we consider that it is important in these circumstances that we clearly call for Béatrice Bellay to be voted for in the second round.
Johnny Hajjar’s big challenge
Elected two years ago, Johnny Hajjar will therefore face unprecedented adversity on his party’s preferred territory. A party within which dissensions were more loudly manifested than usual at the end of last November’s congress.
The role of the Fort-de-France MP within the PPM is also one of the points of friction between the different currents.
In the second round, the vice-president of the PPM will therefore have to campaign among the people of Foyalais but also within his own ranks so as not to be the cursed heir who will have let slip a part of Aimé Césaire’s political legacy.
A crazy pressure that should not be alleviated by the support of Emmanuel Grannier. Last in the first round with 361 votes, he called for a vote in favor of the outgoing deputy.
He will have to his advantage his record on which appears his commitment against the high cost of living. Saturday evening, he also received greetings from Jean-Philippe Nilor, also an outgoing MP and qualified for the second round. The latter praised the collaborative work of the parliamentarians in place. Enough to win? The ballot boxes will tell on July 6, around 10 p.m.
