In his Elysée Palace, Emmanuel Macron must say to himself that Marseille is very difficult to grasp. The President of the Republic, who since September 2021 has come four times on an official visit to France’s second city, announcing his wish to make it a laboratory for his policies, sees the candidates Together!, whose he personally supervised the ‘investiture, be seriously tossed about.
In 2017, the hussars of En Marche swept through the first round of the legislative elections. Qualified in the seven constituencies of the city, they were in the lead in four of them, sometimes improving the percentage obtained by Mr. Macron in the presidential election a few weeks earlier. Four of these political novices will finally be elected, the other two – including the MoDem Eléonore Leprettre, future chief of staff of the Minister for Relations with Parliament Marc Fesneau – being headed by veterans Les Républicains (LR) Guy Teissier and Valérie Boyer.
The efforts made by Emmanuel Macron to seduce the city have since been numerous. The “Marseille en grand” plan and its various components, endowed with more than 3 billion euros, were voted by the National Assembly. The main leaders of the Marseilles right have rallied the presidential majority and the agreement is cordial with the socialist mayor Benoît Payan, leader of the Printemps Marseille, who however supports the New Popular Ecological and Social Union (Nupes).
The attitude of Martine Vassal denounced
The ace. Sunday, June 12, the evening of the first round was tough for the contenders Together!. Saïd Ahamada and Alexandra Louis were removed from their respective constituencies in the first round. In these territories of the northern districts, the victory will be played between the Nupes candidates, local figures of La France insoumise (LFI), who came first, and representatives of the National Rally (RN), almost unknown a few weeks ago. In the city center, the hopes of Together! were also showered. The young lawyer Najat Akodad, who faced in the 4e Manuel Bompard constituency, owes its presence in the second round only to the low turnout. With 14.88% of the vote against 56.04% for her opponent Nupes, she has no hope of victory. The situation is hardly better for Cathy Racon-Bouzon, deputy La République en Marche (LRM) outgoing from the 5e constituency, which is almost 17% behind the Nupes-LFI candidate, Hendrik Davi. Only the outgoing Claire Pitollat (2e), under threat from Nupes, and ex-LR Lionel Royer-Perreaut (6e), more well-off, come out on top in their ridings south of the city.
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