The Political Drama in Maine-et-Loire
In the first round of the legislative elections in the 5th constituency of Maine-et-Loire, Denis Masseglia from the presidential majority led with 32.74%, followed by Gilles Bourdouleix of the National Rally (RN) with 28.19%, and France Moreau of the New Popular Front (NFP) with 25.43%. The NFP had instructed its third-place candidates to withdraw if an RN candidate was in a strong position. However, Bourdouleix announced his withdrawal before re-entering the race at the last minute, leading to a series of strategic maneuvers by Moreau.
Edouard Philippe's Stance Against RN
Former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced that he would vote for communist Jean-Paul Lecoq over the RN candidate in Le Havre. Philippe emphasized his preference for a known elected official who meets democratic standards over an RN candidate, reflecting a broader struggle within the outgoing majority to present a unified stance against the RN.
Controversies and Withdrawals in the RN
Several RN candidates faced controversies that led to withdrawals. Annie Bell, running in Mayenne, was revealed to have a criminal past involving armed hostage-taking. Paule Veyre de Soras, also from Mayenne, made headlines with her questionable remarks about her medical professionals' religious backgrounds. Ludivine Daoudi's candidacy was withdrawn after a photo of her wearing a Nazi cap surfaced. These incidents highlight the ongoing challenges the RN faces in its demonization strategy.
Strategic Withdrawals to Block RN
Multiple candidates from various parties withdrew from the second round to prevent RN victories. Guillaume Vuilletet from Renaissance, Laurent Bonnaterre from Horizons, and others took this step, emphasizing the civic duty to block the far-right. Their decisions reflect a broader trend of strategic withdrawals aimed at countering the RN's rise in the legislative elections.
- In Maine-et-Loire, France Moreau's back-and-forth decisions created significant tension among local left-wing parties. Initially, she announced her withdrawal to block the RN, but later re-entered the race, only to withdraw again under pressure.
- Edouard Philippe's decision to vote for a communist candidate in Le Havre underscores the complexities within the outgoing majority. His firm stance against the RN contrasts with the more flexible approaches of other leaders like Yaël Braun-Pivet.
- Annie Bell's criminal past and Paule Veyre de Soras' remarks have sparked significant controversy. These incidents have led to increased scrutiny of RN candidates, highlighting the party's ongoing struggle to distance itself from its far-right roots.
- Strategic withdrawals by candidates like Guillaume Vuilletet and Laurent Bonnaterre are part of a broader effort to block the RN. These moves are seen as necessary to uphold democratic values and prevent the far-right from gaining power.
