Paris (AFP)
The PS recorded promising results during the first round of municipal elections, Sunday, especially in Paris, but its first secretary Olivier Faure preferred to insist on the health crisis due to the spread of the coronavirus, making everything else "paltry".
"The health crisis is the priority," said Mr. Faure, "everything else seems paltry." "Why on earth did we initiate the first round when we know very well that there will be no second round?" He asked.
According to him, in view of the first results of the municipal elections, "everywhere, the socialists and ecologists are far ahead and have an interest in a second round", but, at present, "the priority concern is to tell us how we are progressing" to deal with the pandemic.
"I am for national unity, we are going to war against a virus" and it is necessary that "we are mobilized, all together", also affirmed the number one socialist, who had already asked, last Wednesday, at the Prime Minister to declare "the state of social emergency". He regretted the "permanent floating" of the authorities, which "worries" the French. "The most popular hashtag (on twitter) is + irresponsible +," he said.
Raphaël Glucksmann, MEP (Place Publique, allied to the PS), reacted in the same way: "I am frightened by the holding of this first round. The results are extremely encouraging for the left and EELV but the main thing is fighting the spread of the pandemic. "
- Leavers resist -
The first results were flattering for the rose party, especially in Paris, where Anne Hidalgo, given in difficulty according to some polls, came out on top with 30-31%, largely ahead of the candidate Rachida Dati (LR, 22%) and Agnès Buzyn (LREM, 17%), according to several estimates.
Ms. Hidalgo's favorable score illustrates the good resistance of outgoing left-wing mayors. In Rennes in particular, Nathalie Appéré leads with more than 30%, ahead of her challenger EELV (25%). In Rouen, the list led by the socialist Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, supported by the outgoing mayor PS Yvon Robert, comes comfortably in the lead with almost 30% of the vote, ahead of the environmental list by more than six points.
In Lille, Martine Aubry, who is aiming for a fourth term logically leads, with 30%, but below her expectations, while an OpinionWay poll gave her 37% of the vote. It is ahead of Stéphane Bailly (EELV, 23-23.5%) and Violette Spillebout (LREM, 17-18.1%), according to estimates by several institutes.
In Denain (North), the outgoing mayor PS is re-elected in the first round. Ditto in Cahors (Lot), with the re-election of the outgoing socialist mayor.
In Le Havre, even if Edouard Philippe is in the lead, the list of part of the left led by the communist Jean-Paul Lecoq, defies the Prime Minister, with more than 35% of the votes.
In Nantes, outgoing mayor Johanna Rolland (PS-PCF), leads with 32.6%, ahead of LR Laurence Garnier and EELV Julie Laernoes (19% each). Comparable scenario at Le Mans, where Stéphane Le Foll exceeds 40%.
Another satisfaction for the PS, its list also dominates in Nancy, a city of conquest held by the radical rallied to Emmanuel Macron, Laurent Hénart. The socialist Mathieu Klein obtains 37.89%, against 34.71% for the outgoing mayor.
In Marseille, another city of conquest for the left, Michèle Rubirola's PS / PCF list comes second, just two points behind LR Martine Vassal (23%).
© 2020 AFP