A face and a voice unknown until then but which will soon become familiar: Jean Castex, 55, is now in command at Matignon. He presents himself as a social Gaullist, attached to the territories, enarque but also elected local visibly appreciated in his commune of Prades, in the Pyrenees Orientales, where Europe 1 met citizens very proud of their mayor who became Prime Minister.

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Little is known of Jean Castex, who was discovered when he was named "Mister deconfinement" during the coronavirus crisis. This native of Gers who became Prime Minister to replace Edouard Philippe has in turn been mayor of Prades in the Pyrénées-Orientales, interministerial delegate in charge of the Olympic Games in Paris 2024, then in charge of deconfinement by the executive. He presents himself as a social Gaullist, attached to the territories, a profile of elected official anchored in his territory that the inhabitants of his adopted fiefdom do not deny. europe 1 went there.

"It reminds me a little of Chirac"

"I received calls all day as if it were me! 'So, is the mayor of Prades?'" Laughs Michèle, delighted. For her, Jean Castex was the best choice. She remembers the proximity of the new Prime Minister to the Pradeans, especially the day when she wrote to the town hall for a common problem of roads, and that Jean Castex came to see her in person.

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"I couldn't believe it! When I told him, he took the time, he stayed for a while. He told me that he was close to his constituents, that he liked to know people, and I think it's true, "enthuses Michèle. "He reminds me a little of Chirac. He is a good mayor, and if we don't spoil him, he'll be okay," said the Pradéen.

"He is on the right, I am on the left, and we always got along!"

Ramon, he knows him well and considers that the gersois Jean Castex can seduce the French as he knew how to seduce the Catalans by being elected here. "His wife was my pupil, she is Catalan, speaks Catalan, and Castex learned Catalan with his wife. He has an advantage: he is pragmatic. He is on the right, I am on the left, and we always got along! ", he says. "I don't know what he's going to do, it's his problem. But I'm sure that in his government, there will be people from the right, and people from the left."

All those interviewed, including his first deputy who will act in the interim, hope above all that he will return to finish his term here in two years. Last March, he was elected with more than 75% of the votes in the first round of this municipality of 7,000 inhabitants.