Municipal in Le Havre: Edouard Philippe has no right to lose

Text by: Julien Chavanne

Five days before the second round of municipal elections, stage in Le Havre. The future of Edouard Philippe will be played out in the great port of Normandy next Sunday. The former mayor who became a city councilor after his appointment to Matignon in 2017 wants to keep his city. He came out on top with 43% of the vote, against 35% for his rival, the Communist deputy Jean-Paul Lecoq. A local ballot which goes beyond the borders of Le Havre.

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The election next Sunday will have national repercussions, however.

If he wins, Edouard Philippe remains Prime Minister, on the condition that Emmanuel Macron keeps it.

If he loses, it's a thunderclap for him and the macronie. And that would sign the end of his lease at Matignon. A double defeat that his opponents dream of.

One of them came specially to Le Havre to call for mobilization against Edouard Philippe. Jean-Luc Mélenchon made the show last Saturday on the market of Bleville, a popular district of Le Havre which can still tip over on one side or the other. The deputy of rebellious France was displayed alongside the communist candidate Jean-Paul Lecoq.

With a clear message: voting against Edouard Philippe is voting against Emmanuel Macron. "  It is a way for me to call all those who voted for me to the presidential to meddle in this case. Because if they get involved, we will have the last word. For once, you have the opportunity to make a big move and be heard in a spectacular way. If ever Mr Edouard Philippe is beaten in Le Havre, we will hear people talking as far as Marseille . ”

A municipal election or referendum against the government?

The two responds the candidate Jean-Paul Lecoq.

"  It is the presence of the Prime Minister who nationalizes the ballot. So we adapt to the situation. And people when we talk to them in the neighborhoods, they tell us that if our life is bad, it's the fault of the policy led by Macron-Philippe. So when Edouard Philippe comes to Le Havre, he must also be accountable . "

Edouard Philippe does everything to escape national questions

Since the start of the campaign, Edouard Philippe has been trying to stay under the radar of the national media. Last weekend, the journalists and the candidate played cat and mouse at the city's markets. And when a press conference is organized, the Prime Minister wants to talk about Le Havre and only Le Havre.

“  Those who speculate on the polls or on the post-second round hypotheses do not interest me. As I only want to talk to you about Le Havre, I won't answer you for the rest of the world. ”

No way to talk about his popularity in the polls, or the upcoming reshuffle ... But his double hat still ends up catching him at one time or another. In the street, a woman calls out to her about the lack of masks at the start of the coronavirus crisis. Another weakness of Edouard Philippe: his choice to stay in Matignon even if he wins in Le Havre is debated among the people of Le Havre.

► Read also : Emmanuel Macron is preparing the next reshuffle

Edouard Philippe favorite but the match is close

The difference between Edouard Philippe and Jean-Paul Lecoq is only 5 points in the voting intentions and the Communist candidate hopes to gather all the votes of the left. The stake of these last days of campaign is to convince the undecided and the abstainers.

More than 60% of the people of Le Havre did not go to vote in the first round of the municipal elections on March 15.

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• Edouard Philippe
• France
• French politics

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