Catherine Trautmann becomes head of the PS list for the municipal elections in Strasbourg after the withdrawal of Mathieu Cahn this Wednesday, February 5, 2020. - G. Varela / 20 Minutes

  • The current head of the PS list for municipal in Strasbourg, the deputy mayor Mathieu Cahn, announced this Wednesday his withdrawal in favor of Catherine Trautmann less than two months from the municipal elections.
  • Mathieu Cahn puts forward “attacks” and “slanders” targeting him, before the trial of the house of associations in Strasbourg, of which he was president until last September.
  • At 69, the former minister of culture of the Jospin government and former mayor of Strasbourg Catherine Trautmann therefore takes over the reins of the socialist campaign.

The news had the effect of a political earthquake in Strasbourg. The current head of the PS list, deputy mayor Mathieu Cahn announced on Wednesday his withdrawal in favor of Catherine Trautmann less than two months before the municipal elections.

How to explain this withdrawal, which took everyone by surprise, even in the ranks of local socialists? Mathieu Cahn puts forward "attacks" and "slanders" targeting him, before the trial of the house of associations in Strasbourg, at a press conference. A structure of which he was president until last September. Its director was dismissed after being accused of harassment and sexual assault.

Mathieu Cahn retires from the head of the PS list in favor of Catherine Trautmann due to the trial of the association house, scheduled between the two towers # Municipales2020 #Strasbourg #Alsace pic.twitter.com/E1m8BkhKtw

- 20 Minutes Strasbourg (@ 20minutesstras) February 5, 2020

His running mates weren't aware

The trial was postponed in November between the two rounds of the elections. "I am not implicated," said Mr. Cahn, who is, however, involved as president. He said that he had fully cooperated with the police. "We don't want the head of the list to serve as a lightning rod," added Catherine Trautmann.

What attacks did Mathieu Cahn mention? Impossible to know more at this stage, the deputy mayor having refused to specify them. "These are not actions or words from the victims, who have the right to a peaceful trial," he said. According to our information, neither the party nor the candidate's running mate had been informed on Wednesday morning. The Strasbourg PS met at its campaign headquarters around 12:30 pm for an explanation.

Thunderclap in sight for municipal in Strasbourg? The head of the PS list Mathieu Cahn could give up in favor of the ex-mayor Catherine Trautmann, according to DNA. According to my information, the running mate had not been notified this morning #Municipales #Strasbourg #PS

- Nils Wilcke (@paul_denton) February 5, 2020

At 69, the former culture minister of the Jospin government therefore takes over the reins of the socialist campaign in Strasbourg, which has been roughed up in the latest polls and weakened by internal divisions. A responsibility that had already been hers in 1989, when she became the first woman mayor of the Alsatian capital.

… /… More information to come on 20 Minutes

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