Resigned, the mayor of Marseille Michèle Rubirola announced that she wanted to see her first deputy, Benoît Payan, succeed him.
But the former PS senator and elected from the northern districts of the city Samia Ghali has dreamed for years of occupying this chair.
A war of succession therefore seems to be emerging in the wake of a political earthquake.
ANALYSIS
She struck lightning on the town hall of Marseille.
Michèle Rubirola announced that she was resigning from her post as mayor of Marseille on Tuesday afternoon for "health reasons".
"I made the decision to leave my functions as mayor of Marseille", announced, determined, the councilor in front of the press gathered at the town hall, less than six months after his election on a list of union of the unpublished left , the Marseilles Spring, which ended 25 years of rule by the right.
The first woman at the head of Marseille also announced that she wanted to "reverse the roles" with her first deputy Benoît Payan.
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A resignation that is not such a big surprise ...
This resignation is ultimately not such a great surprise since the rumor of his departure has only swelled in Marseille in recent weeks.
Not to mention that, according to comments reported by
Le Monde in
mid-October, the 64-year-old councilor had
told
a left-wing personality that he intended to stay in post only "three months".
Now acted, his resignation nevertheless raises the question of his successor.
If Michèle Rubirola has clearly indicated that she wants "Benoît Payan to become mayor", it will not be easy.
Because the first deputy is not unanimous within the Marseilles Spring, in particular because of its socialist label.
This union of left-wing parties has a small and fragile local majority.
Especially since voices are already rising in the local opposition to denounce political maneuvers, like the president Les Républicains de la region PACA, Renaud Muselier, who denounced at the microphone of Europe Evening "a politician grub ".
For its part, the far right even asks that the Marseillais be called back to the polls.
... but which risks triggering a war of succession
If, according to several local sources, an agreement is underway for Benoît Payan to exchange a mandate with Michèle Rubirola, nothing says for the moment whether his majority will accept it.
Not to mention that the biggest obstacle is certainly Samia Ghali.
The former PS senator and second assistant to the town hall have dreamed of occupying the chair of the Marseille city for years.
During the last municipal elections, she had abandoned her project only thanks to an agreement made with Michèle Rubirola.
The elected representative of the northern districts of the city has an opportunity to finally wear the tricolor scarf.
Whether Benoît Payan or Samia Ghali succeeds Michèle Rubirola, one thing seems certain: the Socialists could return to power in Marseille, 35 years after Gaston Defferre.