Manager of the BBL agency, now ING, in Momignies, Eddy Bayard entered politics under the leadership of Albert Depret, whom he never ceased to cite as an example. First alderman following the 2018 election, he quickly became acting mayor in the fall of 2019, replacing Albert Depret whose health was declining. He took the oath as mayor upon his death, having at heart to complete his friend’s mandate.
However, this will not be easy, the MR-PS alliance will not survive the deaths of Pol Lavoine and Albert Depret. Last spring, the majority shattered, announcing a virulent campaign.
But he won the October 2024 election with a considerable lead. Champion of preference votes, he was directly elected mayor for the first time with 946 personal votes. However, he will not have time to take up his duties.
Tributes
In Momignies, there is consternation. Citizens, supporters or political opponents, all salute the man close to the people. As for the Ensemble group, it is logically sadness that predominates. Fabienne Brousmiche, alderman and friend of Eddy Bayard, confides: “It’s a disaster. A new friend is leaving. Eddy was truly a man of integrity, kind to people. He treated all citizens the same way, he always wanted to please everyone “He is a man of his word, who has always followed and respected Albert.”
Jean-Marc Monin, his runner-up on election night, is also in shock: “Life can be truly cruel. Eddy was finally able to be elected mayor, taken out of Albert’s fold and legitimized by the vote of the citizens. He could finally benefit from it. While he will take on the role of mayor on Monday, he adds, dejected: “This is really not how I imagined entering the municipal college.”
On the opposition side, we also salute the man: “It’s really sad, Véronique Riez tells us. My thoughts are with his family, with his children. We were political adversaries, and in the end sometimes violently. But what is politics? Here, it’s human. The rest is ridiculous. There are no words.”
Olivier Recloux goes in the same direction, thinking above all of Eddy Bayard’s family: “We were adversaries, but we respected each other. We could share a drink on occasion. The installation of the council on Monday will be very sad. No one will have a taste for celebration.”
The funeral of Eddy Bayard will take place this Saturday, at 10:30 a.m., at the Momignies church.
