Jérôme Cahuzac's Political Comeback Falls Short
Former French Minister Jérôme Cahuzac has announced his return to politics, ten years after his fall from grace due to a tax fraud scandal. His bid to reclaim a seat in his stronghold of Lot-et-Garonne was unsuccessful, as he garnered only 14.56% of the votes in the first round. Cahuzac has since called for his supporters to back Guillaume Lepers, the Les Républicains (LR) mayor of Villeneuve-sur-Lot, who secured 24.99% of the votes, in an effort to defeat the National Rally (RN) candidate Annick Cousin, who led with 41.08%.
Cahuzac's decision to withdraw in favor of Lepers highlights the ongoing struggle against the far-right in France. 'I am withdrawing in favor of the candidate best placed to beat the candidate of the National Rally,' Cahuzac stated. His withdrawal was mirrored by Xavier Czapla of the New Popular Front, who also aimed to block the RN.
Oise Legislative Elections: A Battleground for Extremes
The legislative elections in Oise have seen a significant increase in voter participation, with 59.38% turnout by 5 p.m., compared to 19.05% in 2022. This heightened mobilization is critical as the National Rally (RN) continues to gain ground in the region. In the first constituency, RN candidate Claire Marais-Beuil leads with 50.42% of the votes, followed by LR's Victor Habert-Dassault with 26.13%.
The second constituency also sees RN's Philippe Ballard in the lead with 56.83%, ahead of Victor Habert-Dassault and Marianne Seck of the New Popular Front. The RN's strong performance in Oise is a continuation of their success in the 2022 legislative elections, where they secured three out of seven seats.
The Struggle for Political Dominance in Oise
In the third constituency, RN's Alexandre Sabatou faces a challenge from Amadou Ka of the New Popular Front. Despite the RN's strong showing, Ka remains optimistic about reversing the trend. Meanwhile, in the fourth constituency, Eric Woerth, a former minister and current Renaissance candidate, acknowledges the 'RN wave' but believes in resisting it.
The fifth constituency features a clash between LR's Pierre Vatin and RN's Frédéric Pierre Vos, with Vatin distancing himself from any alliance with the RN. The sixth constituency sees RN's Michel Guiniot as the favorite, while the seventh constituency has LR's Maxime Minot facing RN's David Magnier. The RN's growing influence in Oise is evident, and the upcoming second round will be crucial in determining the political landscape of the region.
- The political landscape in France is witnessing significant shifts, with traditional parties like the Socialists and the Republicans facing challenges from the far-right National Rally (RN). The rise of the RN has been marked by their strong performances in recent elections, including the legislative elections in Oise.
- In Lot-et-Garonne, Jérôme Cahuzac's attempt to make a political comeback highlights the difficulties faced by former politicians in regaining public trust after scandals. His decision to support Guillaume Lepers against the RN candidate underscores the broader struggle against far-right ideologies in France.
- The increased voter turnout in Oise is a positive sign for French democracy, indicating a heightened political engagement among citizens. However, the success of the RN in multiple constituencies raises concerns about the future direction of French politics.
