France Jamet Launches Montpellier Mayoral Bid, Railing Against “Ecological Dictatorship”
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A veteran politician and close ally of Marine Le Pen is challenging for the mayoral seat in Montpellier, framing her campaign as a rejection of what she calls an “ecological dictatorship.” France Jamet, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) representing the National Rally (RN), announced her candidacy on Friday for the municipal elections in Montpellier (Hérault), a race she previously contested in 2014.
A Party Endorsement and a Break with the Status Quo
“I am the candidate chosen by the National Rally, which I consider to be an act of confidence on the part of the party,” Jamet stated. The 64-year-old emphasized her intention to disrupt the current political landscape, declaring, “I am part of a desire to break with municipal politics.” This endorsement signals a significant commitment from the RN to capture the mayoral seat in this key southern French city.
Reversing Current Policies
Jamet has already signaled a clear divergence from the policies of the current socialist mayor, Michael Delafosse. Specifically, she intends to abandon the free public transportation initiative implemented by Delafosse, a policy she ironically proposed herself during her 2014 campaign. Her platform centers on bolstering “safety” and “healthiness” within France’s seventh-largest city.
Restoring Access for Vehicles
A central tenet of Jamet’s campaign is the restoration of vehicle access to the city center. She argues that cars have been unfairly “driven out” by what she terms “the environmentalist dictatorship.” To achieve this, Jamet plans to promote intermodality, a system that integrates various modes of transportation, prioritizing the return of automobiles.
A Lifelong Commitment to the National Front
Jamet’s political roots run deep within the French far-right. A member of the National Front since her adolescence, she follows in the footsteps of her father, Alain Jamet, who co-founded the party alongside Jean-Marie Le Pen in 1972. He passed away in November. In the 2014 municipal elections, Jamet secured 13.80% of the vote in the first round and 9.18% in the second.
From Regional Councilor to European Deputy
Prior to her current role as an MEP since 2017, Jamet served as a long-time regional councilor. She assumed her position in the European Parliament from Louis Aliot, the current mayor of Perpignan. The selection of Jamet as the RN candidate followed a brief challenge from Thierry Tsagalos, another member of the Hérault National Rally, who initially claimed to have the party’s backing. Ultimately, the nomination was awarded to Jamet, a long-standing confidante of the Le Pen family.
This contest promises to be a pivotal moment for Montpellier, setting the stage for a potentially dramatic shift in the city’s political direction.
