the essential
As in 2022, the three deputies of the National Rally crushed the first round of the legislative elections in the department. The three outgoings, Christophe Barthès, Frédéric Falcon and Julien Rancoule are doing even better than two years ago.
As in 2022 or as in the European elections, the National Rally emerged victorious from yesterday’s vote. A vote marked by a very high participation which benefited the far-right party. On June 9, during the European elections, Jordan Bardella’s list brought together more than 63,500 voters, yesterday more than 89,000 Audois chose the RN. This is no longer an accident.
First constituency. The outgoing MP Christophe Barthès (RN) narrowly missed being re-elected in the first round. With more than 33,000 votes (49.33% of the vote), the candidate more than doubled his score compared to the 2022 election, which was nevertheless marked by a much lower turnout (51%). Yesterday, more than 70% of voters turned out, and, as in the European elections, they overwhelmingly chose to offer their ballot to the far right. Philippe Poutou, the candidate of the New Popular Front, although qualified for the second round, came in far behind with less than 19% of the vote. Mayor of Carcassonne between 2009 and 2014 and former MP (1997-2017), Jean-Claude Perez, a former socialist who ran under the presidential banner, came in third with just over 16% of the vote. In seven years, the political landscape in Aude has literally been dynamited in favour of the RN, which, in the city as in the countryside, leaves only crumbs to its adversaries.
Second constituency. Here again, the outgoing MP has been talking the talk. Elected in 2022 against Macronist candidate Alain Péréa, Frédéric Falcon won over more than 28,000 voters (48.12%). There were just under 12,400 two years ago. The high participation (67%) therefore greatly benefited the RN candidate. Viviane Thivent, for the New Popular Front, is ahead of the Macronist candidate by more than 4,000 votes, but is behind the incumbent by almost 13,000 votes. However, there remains an unknown factor. Christine Breyton, presidential majority candidate, is qualified for a triangular. The candidate narrowly crossed the 12.5% mark of those registered. By crossing this threshold, she can legitimately maintain her candidacy next Sunday.
Third district. Of the three RN deputies, Julien Rancoule is the one with the lowest score. It is still necessary to put the result into perspective. With more than 44% of the votes, the outgoing MP remains in a favorable position during the second round. Philippe Andrieu (regional councilor and mayor of Cépie), the socialist candidate nominated by the New Popular Front, held up well. With 20,239 votes, however, he is behind by more than 7,300 votes. However, the game is far from lost for the Republican parties, whether on the right or the left. In the game of postponements, Philippe Andrieu today seems the only candidate who can prevent the grand slam of the National Rally in the department. But the road will be long.
