- Johanna Rolland was re-elected mayor of Nantes, ahead of Laurence Garnier (27.6%) and Valérie Oppelt (12.7%).
- Laurence Garnier was already a candidate for the Republicans in 2014.
- The last mayor on the right was Michel Chauty (RPR), from 1983 to 1989.
Six consecutive setbacks and few reasons for satisfaction. For 31 years now, since the arrival of a certain Jean-Marc Ayrault (PS), the right has been defeated in the municipal elections in Nantes. Sunday, it was Laurence Garnier (LR) who failed in second position in the triangular of the second round (27.67%), far behind the socialist Johanna Rolland (59.67%). A significantly larger gap than six years ago. However, drawing lessons from previous failures, the Nantes right had managed to keep the same candidate. It was also widely credited with an offensive campaign. So what went wrong?
"The health crisis still played a lot in favor of outgoing mayors, we saw it in the first round," said Laurence Garnier. “In times of crisis, voters try to keep stability, confirms Julien Bainvel, LR city councilor. Local subjects have also gone into the background. "The campaign was good. The theme of security, which was taken up by all the candidates, was Laurence who had imposed it. We had a lot of hopes. And, in the end, a lot of frustration, ”regrets Anthony Beraud, departmental secretary of the Republicans.
"We give up very quickly in our camp"
Abstention is also pointed out. “I think it was more penalizing for the right. There is an elderly electorate who did not go to vote, ”continues Anthony Beraud. Sophie Van Goethem, who was one of the candidates of the right (without label) in 2014, shares this opinion but puts forward a problem of motivation. "We have a lot of defeatists who said to themselves" it is useless "," everything is folded ". We let go very quickly in our camp. "
The candidacy of the En Marche list (Valérie Oppelt) and its retention in the second round also siphoned off some of the usual votes from the right. "This is the main problem," says Pierre Gobet, various straight candidates in 2014. I regret it, ”repeats Laurence Garnier. “Despite the difficulties, we still avoided the crash experienced by other right-wing candidates elsewhere, such as in Rennes, Lille or Le Mans. It is a sign that the strategy was good ”, positive Julien Bainvel.
"I will continue to fight for this city"
How to bounce back in these circumstances? “It will still take work, energy, a renewed team. No city is impregnable! Answers Laurence Garnier. “There are still areas where we are not sufficiently established. We have to be able to mesh the territory and generate debate, ”considers Julien Bainvel. “We are too serious, too correct, we don't make enough buzz. We probably have to make more noise, ”suggests Sophie Van Goethem.
Should we change candidates? Not necessarily, says Julien Bainvel. "We need time. Notoriety, knowledge of the terrain, is extremely difficult to acquire. "If Laurence is determined, she will be a very good candidate, is convinced the departmental secretary of the Republicans. But six years is far away. Will she want it? Laurence Garnier, who we know is interested in a Senate mandate, says she is still motivated. "Of course the score, the defeat, lead me to think. But I am from Nantes. I try to be authentic. I remain convinced that the project we have carried out responds to real challenges for Nantes. I will continue to fight for this city and come up with ideas. "
"Perhaps young charismatics will emerge? wonders Sophie Van Goethem. Everything is open. Pierre Gobet expresses doubts. “Laurence Garnier is not a bad candidate. But in this city, as long as there is not someone known, emblematic, it will be complicated. "
"It sounds complicated but, six years is a very, very long time"
Will the coming years be more favorable for the Nantes right? Julien Bainvel believes in it. “There are ideological differences within the majority of the PS-Greens. There will also be strong personalities. I'm not sure it will be going very very well. "Johanna Rolland has established herself in the political landscape, but I'm not sure that she has forged a strong bond with its inhabitants," says Anthony Beraud.
“In politics, nothing is ever won or lost in advance. You should never ever let go! "Adds Sophie Van Goethem, who recognizes however that" Nantes has always been difficult for the right. "It sounds complicated but, six years is a very long time, a lot can happen," concludes Pierre Gobet. The national context will have a huge influence. We will already see more clearly after the presidential election. "
Municipal
Results of the municipal elections in Nantes: A “clear and legitimate” re-election for Johanna Rolland (PS)
Municipal
VIDEO. Municipales 2020: "Nantes must not become the capital of absurd projects", launches Laurence Garnier (LR)
- Municipal
- Elections
- Nantes