Biarritz (AFP)
The Minister of Agriculture and former socialist Didier Guillaume formalized his candidacy for the mayor of Biarritz on Saturday, prefiguring a fratricidal ministerial duel with the Secretary of State Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, ally of the outgoing mayor MoDem who is representing himself.
"Biarritz needs an incarnation and an impulse," said Didier Guillaume, 60, when he launched his campaign at the Jaï alaï (Basque pelota hall) in the city, surrounded by a hundred supporters. He said he wanted to put "European and international relations" woven into his ministry at the service of Biarritz, "the only non-capital to be known worldwide".
"I will be full-time mayor," said Guillaume, assuring that if he were elected he "would no longer be in government".
Former senator of Drôme and president of this department, Didier Guillaume will be opposed to the list of outgoing mayor Michel Veunac, 73 years old, which includes Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, 42 years old, Secretary of State to the Minister for Europe and of Foreign Affairs, former Senator LR de l'Yonne, now a member of LREM.
Biarritz, a luxury seaside town on the Basque Coast with 25,000 inhabitants, has historically been firmly anchored in the center-right, voting RPR, UMP then LR in the national elections. The centrist mayor Michel Veunac assured having received "a lot of encouragement" from Emmanuel Macron. Mr. Guillaume for his part estimated on Saturday that "LREM has made the choice of neutrality in this city, that suits me very well".
© 2020 AFP