He already announced it in our columns last May. “I am building a gathering of right-wing forces. I am building a project and I am determined to carry it forward (to the municipal elections, in Rennes) in 2026.” Thomas Rousseau, number 2 of LR 35 and boss of the association “Rennes à gauche” formalized his candidacy on December 5. The name of his future group? Rennes Hope. His goal? “Prepare for after Appéré”.
“Proud to be from Rennes”
“Our capital of Brittany benefits from numerous assets (…). However, the current executive, out of breath, is anchored in an ideology of radicalism without vision and without consultation, the candidate indicated in a press release. The consequences are reflected in a marked decline in our city in many areas with a situation which is becoming alarming in terms of insecurity, access to housing, attractiveness, management of major projects and excessive debt. »
Under these conditions, Espoir Rennes promises to work “on emergency measures to be put in place from 2026 with a course and a project broken down into four pillars, central themes of the 2026 campaign: Rennes safe, Rennes for all , live better in Rennes and proud to be Rennes! »
That’s the bottom line. On a more political level, Thomas Rousseau, a 37-year-old newcomer to the Rennes landscape, assures that the creation of Espoir Rennais is the “fruit of a pre-campaign on the ground that began last August”. This would have “made it possible to forge a strong bond with the people of Rennes and to identify their deep desire for change”. It would also have led to the gathering “of the entire right”, he assures.
“Strange temporality”
This assertion leaves Charles Compagnon doubtful. The leader of the opposition group to the City and the Metropolis Agir pour Rennes also brings together personalities from… the right and the center. What does he think of Thomas Rousseau’s initiative?
Charles Compagnon says he is satisfied to see a leader emerge within LR in a city which has been without one for several years. For the rest, the elected official is marked by a certain skepticism. “The temporality of this declaration – which came the day after the censorship of the Barnier government – seems strange to me,” he confides. People are already extremely anxious about the national situation, it is not necessarily appropriate to add to it. »
For the rest? “We are elected. We have a considerable amount of work, with the budgetary orientation review of the Metropolis, the financial difficulties of the City, the discovery of the Vilaine car park… Frankly, we don’t have time to do little political strategy. We have to work. »
Lunch without tomorrow
Was he contacted by Thomas Rousseau to discuss a possible alliance? “Contrary to what he may have indicated elsewhere, I can confirm that we had lunch together.” What does he think of his proposals? “Look at what I’ve been saying since the 2020 campaign,” he invites. What makes us different? Except perhaps the propensity that Thomas Rousseau has to talk about national politics. Which I don’t do. »
Local leader of Horizons, the party of former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe, does Charles Compagnon understand the desire of the other right-wing candidate to build a gathering independent of the presidential majority? “This no longer exists, judges Compagnon. Horizons officials were also in the Barnier government alongside Bruno Retailleau.”
Rennes right subscribes to divisions
Is this initiative likely to mark “the great return of the losing machine” in a city where the right has always had difficulty not dispersing?
“The losing machine? This is actually what I was entrusted with, explains the opposition representative, who “does not understand the meaning of this approach”. »She intervenes, precisely, at the moment when, with Carole Gandon (the leader of the other opposition group
we have just formed a joint group in the Metropolis and we work together in the City.” What should worry anyone who does not hide “his ambitions for 2026”? Not really. “The elections are in March 2026. It’s December 2024. We have to be at work. The in-depth work that we have been doing for four years will inevitably have an impact. »
Contacted, she was not able to respond to our request at the time we put it online.
