Municipal in Paris: Agnès Buzyn's candidacy shuffles the cards

Paris is well worth a ministry. The government doctor, Agnès Buzyn, therefore finally left the Ministry of Health to come to the rescue of the LREM candidacy, in danger in Paris. Designated by the presidential party on Sunday February 16 to succeed Benjamin Griveaux - disqualified by the broadcasting of videos of a sexual nature -, the 58-year-old hematologist has the heavy task of winning a badly engaged election. His predecessor was only credited with 16% of the voting intentions in the last polls behind the outgoing socialist mayor Anne Hidaldo (23%) and the candidate of the Republicans, Rachida Dati (20%).

No story is ever written in advance. Especially not in the place of Parisians.

It's a new page in this campaign.

Gathered. With @agnesbuzyn. pic.twitter.com/ptYen4iox8

Four short weeks before the election, can this last-minute candidate really reshuffle the municipal battle cards? Among walkers, we are convinced. At least that's what Prime Minister Édouard Philippe said. "Only Agnès Buzyn is able to give again a hope of victory". An enthusiasm shared by Karim Amellal, writer and head of LREM list in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, for whom the arrival of a pillar of Macronie "gives new life to this campaign". "Excellent choice", rejoices his side the deputy of Paris, Gilles Legendre. "Agnès Buzyn has a deep desire to commit to Paris. She convinced us of that," sums up Mounir Mahjoubi. At work to build the suite together. "

Agnès Buzyn has a deep desire to commit to Paris. She convinced us of it. At work to build the suite together. I am happy and I will be by his side until victory. Parisians are ready for work-study! pic.twitter.com/dVt9LxjEKW

A risky Paris

The game is far from won. Barely appointed, the candidate is criticized, within one hour of her appointment. First grievance, the former member of the government is accused of giving up her ministerial post in the midst of an epidemic of coronavirus when she must already lead the pension reform and the hospital crisis.

Retraites, coronavirus ... The 4 files in progress that @ agnesbuzyn abandons to launch into the battle of #Paris! Is leaving the ship when it starts to take water an act of bravery? For a project she never even imagined? 🤔 https://t.co/7WIBYp0E9G

In the ranks of the opposition, we also suspect the candidate of not mastering municipal files or the functioning of the city. And "virgin of any electoral experience, it is not really a beast of scene and risks to struggle to raise the crowds in the meetings", abounds the editorialist Alexandra Schwartzbrod, in the columns of Liberation. Last but not least, like its unfortunate predecessor, it risks suffering from the rejection of the government by a part of the voters. In addition to all these difficulties, there is the fratricidal candidacy of Cédric Villani, excluded in January from the LREM party, which continues to attract 10% of Parisian voters.

"The candidacy of Agnès Buzyn will not completely upset the municipal authorities, analyzes sociologist Michel Wieviorka, during an interview on France 24. It will not change the situation with regard to voters who are very anchored to the right and to But she will still question the undecided. And we know that there are still many who decide in the voting booth. " The director of studies at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales does not think that she manages to win many votes from her direct competitor Cédric Villani. "Those who support him appreciate his anti-corporalist attitude and the independence he has taken from Emmanuel Macron's party."

An "exciting election"

The two favorites Anne Hidalgo and Rachida Dati should they rejoice or worry about this newcomer? "It is the candidate of the Republicans who is most likely to suffer from the arrival of Agnes Buzyn in the political game, advances the specialist in French politics. This is even good news for Anne Hidalgo because the former minister may weaken Rachida Dati's list. " Admittedly of social-democratic sensitivity, Agnès Buzyn is also accountable for a certain number of measures defended by the government considered more right-handed, like the reform of the pensions or the abolition of the reimbursement of certain drugs. She also embodies in the eyes of Secretary of State Marlène Schiappa "a real new lease of life for Paris outside the right / left divide".

Not everyone agrees on this analysis. "Buzyn can take votes on the left," said the Belgian daily Le Soir. Just as she can also “reassure the right” with her personal journey and her profile as “daughter-in-law of an icon of French politics: Simone Veil”.

Native and resident of Paris, the former president of the National Cancer Institute and then of the High Authority for Health is not the apparatchik of a party but comes from civil society. She also enjoys better sympathy capital than Benjamin Griveaux. It obtains 27% of good opinions in the last Ifop-Fiducial poll for Paris Match. Nothing exceptional, but still better than its predecessors and its 20%.

Last asset, the media uproar around the Griveaux affair allowed the former minister to benefit from "an exceptional exposure to enter the electoral race", still agrees Michel Wieviorka.

Mass is therefore not said. What make all the actors of these municipal feverish when reading the next opinion polls. "We are not immune to new surprises and to see the next polls change the situation, warns Michel Wieviorka, this is what makes the election exciting". Other twists and turns could still mark the campaign: Agnès Buzin hadn't she said, just three days ago, that it was impossible for him to take over from Benjamin Griveaux because of a busy schedule ?

The France 24 week summary invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

Download the app