Nearly thirty years after its victories in Vitrolles and Marignane, neighboring towns, under the National Front label, and five months after winning ten of the department's sixteen legislative constituencies, the National Rally (RN) takes back control of a commune of Bouches-du-Rhône. Christophe Gonzalez, 53, a member of the Lepéniste party for a year and a novice in politics, won on Sunday, November 24, in a surprisingly peaceful atmosphere, during the municipal by-election in Rognac. Populated by 12,500 inhabitants, the town is also located on the industrialized banks of the Etang de Berre.
Mr. Gonzalez's list was presented under a double label called “union of rights” RN-RPR, named after the “Rally to Rebuild” training launched in June 2023 by Franck Allisio, departmental head of the far-right party and political advisor to Marine Le Pen. But she benefited from significant support from elected officials and RN activists outside the municipality, throughout the campaign. This list wins with nearly 150 votes in advance and nearly 38% of the ballots in a quadrangular. “It is the success of our opening strategy and a fair victory, enthused Franck Allisio, very present throughout the campaign. When everyone sticks to their beliefs and doesn't pretend to be allies, our ideas win.”.
Mr. Gonzalez finishes ahead of the unlabeled list (but also marked on the right) of the resigning former security deputy, Willy Nicollet (35%). The outgoing mayor, Sylvie Miceli-Houdais (UDI), undermined by business and who saw the elected representatives of her majority resign one after the other, finished third and remained a simple opposition municipal councilor. A fourth citizens' list, formed a few weeks before the election, comes in last position. The second round was not marked by the surge in participation rate that several candidates hoped for. It stands at 52% compared to 51% the previous Sunday. “I expected a better mobilization of residents for an election that governs their daily lives, regretted the losing candidate Willy Nicollet. LThe Rognacais chose and the lists which were maintained too. Everyone will have to take responsibility. »
Nauseous campaign
Christophe Gonzalez, a Rognacais by birth, had already come first in the first round, on November 17, with 33% of the votes. The maintenance of three other lists prevented the creation of an anti-RN front. In the week between the two rounds, Mr. Nicollet nevertheless received at the last minute the support of Renaud Muselier (Renaissance), the president of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, and Martine Vassal (various right) , president of the departmental council. “We did not ask them because we wanted to remain independent,” assured the candidate's team at the time of counting.
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