Interview. Freddy Sertin becomes deputy for Calvados again, “for 3 weeks, 3 months… I don't plan”

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You are going to put on the deputy's costume once again, by January 23 or 24, how did you find out?

I am always remained in contact with Élisabeth Borne and its collaborators for the territory's files. His name has been circulating a lot since the appointment of François Bayrou as Prime Minister, and as there is never smoke without fire, I told myself that things could change. Even if, sincerely, I didn't think she would return to a Government so quickly. It was a surprise.

You were an MP for 20 months. It ended in February 2024. Did you expect to be like that again?

Objectively, no. I didn't think I would come back so quickly. For almost a year, I found a place in the shadow of Élisabeth Borne, as substitute. Professionally, I was lucky to be able to return to the group to which I belonged, Vivalto Health. To another position, to another mission, as Director of Public Affairs.

From one day to the next, you had to reorganize your personal and professional life, how did it go?

Already, I have a very accommodating family on the subject. When I got involved in politics, I did not get involved alone, but with my wife and my daughters. They knew that I was passionate about politics and that at some point I would like to move from the shadows to the light.

The 20-month period through, among other things, the Pension Reform was relatively violent to manage on a personal level.

Having to switch back to the role of substitute, I had to readjust. Especially since the departure of Elisabeth Borne from Matignon, no one had anticipated it.

I experienced a period between two waters, for 48-72 hours, where I was on the ropes. Then we bounce back. We restructure our life. We make calls. In this case, it was the general manager of Vivalto who contacted me. Which also allowed me to stay in Paris and maintain a link with the political ecosystem.

“I’m leaving for 3 weeks, 3 months… I’m not planning ahead”

You will find a transformed National Assembly. The atmosphere seems to have changed a lot over the past year.

I think it was mainly degraded. I have friends who are still MPs. They clearly told me that I would not recognize the National Assembly as I experienced it. The fault is the desire of the extremes to absolutely want to destabilize the legislative bodies in place and to undermine our Institutions. For some, moving towards a hypothetical Sixth Republic. For others, pushing the President of the Republic to resign.

I return to a temporality where the French parliamentarism has never been so weakened. We are clearly experiencing significant political instability. That's why even me, personally, I know that I'm leaving for three weeks, three months… Frankly, I'm not planning ahead.

Which group will you sit in?

Within the Presidential Majority.

“I will restart the hotlines”

In September 2023, during a first assessment, you spoke of “feelings of fracture” among the French, do you think this is still the case?

Considering the exchanges that I can always have and due to my functions, I think that it has become more pronounced. There is clearly a gap between metropolises and rural areas. This feeling of downgrade is still presentoui.

You also have a role to play as an MP. As a man on the ground. Are you going to meet the inhabitants of the area?

On a daily basis, I will try to take over the organization that I was able to put in place over 20 months and which had worked well. With a fixed permanence in Vireto welcome fellow citizens by appointment. Then I will restart them offices within the constituencyon Friday.

It's a method that works quite well, because I have always based my mandate on a triptych: represent, listen and defend. But once again, without planning ahead. I will give what I have to give in the time that I am given to do so.

Do you understand that Élisabeth Borne, unlike you, was unable or unwilling to remain permanent?

I can understand given her national commitments, whether as former Prime Minister or within the party. I know that our fellow citizens would have liked to see her more but she was almost once a week in the constituency, and God knows that it is vast and that it is not limited to Vire. I think she did the best given her availability.

Élisabeth Borne is Minister of National Education, Higher Education and Research. Can it bring anything to our territory?

She will bring a particular perspective to her constituency, I am convinced. I think that alongside him, we can rework the map of higher education.

Be on a municipal list? ” Why not “

To conclude, we will talk about you and your ambitions. Why are you involved in politics?

I have been involved in Vire since 2014, since I had managed the campaign by Marc Andreu Sabater for municipal elections. Afterwards, I had become his chief of staff. And I have been advising and interacting with regional or national elected officials for more than 20 years.

If I get involved in politics, it is because I believe that we can still improve the daily lives of our fellow citizens. by putting people at the heart of concerns.

Some already imagine you as mayor of Vire Normandy in the future. How do you see these next deadlines? Would you like to be part of it?

I have been asked numerous times about the Municipal elections (they will take place in March 2026, editor's note). As a deputy, the mandate having been reset to zero with the dissolution, we left for 5 years. Currently, the accumulation of mandates does not allow a deputy to be mayor, therefore in fine I cannot run for mayor. Moreover, for the moment, be mayor of Vire Normandy is, for me, not an end in itself. On the other hand, accompany, support or integrate a list, why not. Everything is open. Discussions are currently taking place. I don't forbid myself anything.

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