Uintense campaign, media stunts and an indecisive result: until the end of the American presidential election, Republicans and Democrats will have deployed crazy energy in Pennsylvania, a pivotal state – a swing state – capable of switching to one camp or the other. An intense campaign, media stunts and an indecisive result: until the end of the professional agricultural elections, the unions will have deployed crazy energy in Dordogne, a pivotal department capable of switching to one camp or the other.
François Soulard, head of the list of the Confédération paysanne (Conf'), summarizes the issue: “The National Federation of Farmers' Unions [FNSEA]the majority at the national level, is also in Périgord. However, the department is stuck between two others [le Lot-et-Garonne et la Haute-Vienne] acquired at Rural Coordination [CR]. And we don't want to be content with the role of referee. The Dordogne is a totem. »
A breakfast organized by the FDSEA at the home of the president of the Chamber of Agriculture, Jean-Philippe Granger.
Stéphane Klein / SO
National Representatives
“It’s a pivotal territory,” says Clément Courteix, president of the Young Farmers (JA) of Nouvelle-Aquitaine and in 5th position on the FDSEA/JA list. He adds: “The CR hopes to recover this department between two of its centers, and we do not want to let that happen. »
As the White House, the interconsular center of Coulounieix-Chamiers, headquarters of the Chamber of Agriculture. Instead of Elon Musk or Beyoncé in the meetings – renowned for the “aperitifs in the countryside” or even “face to face” circumstance – the unions have bet on their national president. Arnaud Rousseau, that of the FNSEA, already passed on December 4, will return to Dordogne on Thursday January 9; Véronique Le Floc'h, her counterpart from the CR, made the trip on Tuesday January 7 to Coulounieix-Chamiers.
Expand your base.
“Everywhere I go, he arrives,” quips the latter. She adds: “I am here to share my confidence, because the Dordogne is largely winnable for the CR. » Proof of the dynamic underway, the presence of a national media in the small Claudie-Haigneré room in Coulounieix-Chamiers to cover the event. On site, lots of yellow hats or CR flocked down jackets.
It's a fact: most organized meetings, regardless of the union, almost exclusively attract an audience committed to their cause. Everyone hugs their base: the FDSEA highlights its balance sheet and its technical knowledge of the issues, the CR its dynamism and its desire to fight against agro-industry and the Conf' its policy in favor of installation and a long term vision. The undecided, the potential abstainers or the non-aligned, remain on their farm.
“It is all those who are not unionized who will determine the result of the vote,” prophesies Jean-Philippe Granger, the outgoing FDSEA president of the Chamber of Agriculture. During the last elections (1), in 2019, the participation rate was less than 47% within the college of operating managers, the keystone of the body. Every union understands that it is the one that broadens its base that will win.
Word of mouth
“The tactic of the FDSEA and the CR is to play the fool,” tackles François Soulard. We play the local level and the proximity card with talks far from Périgueux and videos on YouTube. And then, we don't have the same resources as the FDSEA. » An argument brushed aside by Guillaume Testut, president of the JA de la Dordogne, who highlights the representativeness of the list to which he belongs: “We are motivated and competent. We are not here to bawl every six years. »
Monday January 6, he participated with around fifteen people in the first “Café à la ferme”, organized on Jean-Philippe Granger's farm. A communications operation which has convinced the current majority union of one thing: by the end of the campaign, on January 30, we will have to make ourselves known to each small farm. A towing campaign is planned.
Rémi Dumaure, the head of the CR list, relies on word of mouth: “When you help someone concretely, they are the ones who give you the best publicity. ” In less than a year, he has established himself as a media figure in the agricultural world, showing himself vehemently against the policy of “co-management” led by the majority FDSEA: “In an electoral campaign, we don't just make friends. It's been hectic. » Almost as much as in Pennsylvania.
(1) In 2019, in Dordogne, the FDSEA obtained 47.27% of the votes, the CR 29.07% and the Confédération paysanne 23.66%.
