Voters in part of Isère are expected to go to the polls this Sunday for a legislative by-election. They must elect the successor of Insoumis deputy Hugo Prevost, who resigned since October, after accusations of sexual violence against him. The latter was also excluded from La France insoumise and from the parliamentary group of the radical left movement.
Eleven candidates are in the running for this first round in the first constituency of Isère which brings together part of Grenoble and around ten rather upscale municipalities on the heights of the city. Participation is expected to be low and the casting has largely been renewed, making the predictions all the more uncertain, specialists believe.
The New Popular Front (NFP) has nominated child rights activist Lyes Louffok, 30 years old. This choice aroused tensions on the left while the former NFP candidate in Matignon, Lucie Castets, had for a time considered running, before giving up, as did Amandine Germain, a local socialist elected official.
Candidate in Val-de-Marne in 2024, Lyes Louffok was beaten in the second round by the Republican candidate. He had to face accusations of “parachuting”.
Several candidates
Opposite, in the ranks of the Macronists, the former Minister of Health and former seat holder Olivier Véran gave way to his former deputy Camille Galliard-Minier, 49, who replaced him in the Assembly when he was in government from 2020 to 2022.
-This former lawyer at the Grenoble bar, who presents herself as a “social democrat”, was born and lives in this constituency. However, she does not benefit from the same notoriety as Olivier Véran and will face competition on her land from the dissident centrist Hervé Gerbi and the Republican Nathalie Béranger.
Among the other contenders for the second round is also the Ciottist candidate of the Union of Rights Alexandre Lacroix, who had collected 17.41% of the votes during a triangular in the second round in July 2024, allowing Hugo Prevost to win over Olivier Véran by some 1,300 votes.
The 25-year-old student unionist had to throw in the towel in mid-October due to accusations of sexual and gender-based violence. Pushed to resign after numerous indignant reactions, particularly among Insoumis activists, he was immediately excluded from his party.
Polling stations will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., except that of Grenoble which will close at 8 p.m. The possible second round will take place on January 19.
