• After the municipal elections in 2020, the presidential party experienced a new electoral rout this Sunday in the first round of regional and departmental elections.

  • The Republic on the move is eliminated in Hauts-de-France, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Occitanie, and barely exceeds 10% in other regions.

  • In Ile-de-France, the walkers gathered around the head of the list Laurent Saint-Martin do not hide their disappointment, even if their list is maintained in the second round.

"Beautiful metaphor, it takes water everywhere", laments an activist of La République en Marche, his eyes riveted on the giant screen.

While the first results of the regional elections are scrolling on smartphones, images of the violent thunderstorms that swept through France this Sunday are broadcast in the elegant room of the 2nd arrondissement of Paris where the macronists are organizing their election evening.

All the results to find on our site

Despite the involvement of about fifteen members of the government in the campaign, LREM, in need of territorial establishment, recorded a new disappointment in the polls after the municipal elections a year ago.

In addition, the majority is held responsible by the opposition for record abstention and hiccups in the distribution of electoral documents.

Eliminated in three regions

Under the rain which redoubled on the glass roof, the bad news fell throughout the evening.

In three regions, LREM is eliminated in the first round: in Occitanie, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Hauts-de-France, where five ministers appear on the lists, including the thunderous Eric-Dupond-Moretti (Justice) and Gérald Darmanin (Interior). 

Everywhere else, LREM barely exceeds the 10% mark, the minimum threshold to qualify for the second round, and loses hope of "playing kingmakers", as the party executives envisioned.

It is only in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and Brittany that the majority can try to act as referees in the second round by making alliances.

Disappointed activists

Beside the well-stocked buffet, supporters of LREM laugh a little yellow.

"We will drink to forget ..." As we must find reasons to rejoice, some underline the score of the National Rally, "lower than expected", notes Romain *, young sympathizer of the majority.

Among the marchers, some celebrations liven up the electoral evening in Paris ... while waiting for the results of # electionsregionales2021 #lrem pic.twitter.com/2IBnlhjJLb

- Laure Cometti (@la_comete) June 20, 2021

Even the MoDem ministers fail to save the furniture: Marc Fesneau and Geneviève Darrieussecq are qualified in Center-Val-de-Loire and New Aquitaine, but their scores leave little hope for the second round.

Shortly after 8 p.m., a relief tinged with bitterness spreads in the Parisian room: the deputy Laurent Saint-Martin obtains about 12% of the votes in Ile-de-France, a disappointing score given the reinforcement provided by the five members of the government present on its lists, including the very media Marlène Schiappa.

Questioning in sight at the party

The head of the Ile-de-France list then splits a very brief speech in front of a few activists and journalists, calling for a “Republican surge” from voters next Sunday, and announcing his maintenance in the second round, despite his reduced chances of winning facing outgoing president Valérie Pécresse.

The head of the #LREM list in Île-de-France Laurent Saint Martin announces that he will remain in the second round of # electionsregionales2021 and calls on voters to “a republican burst” pic.twitter.com/3eZKfy820R

- Laure Cometti (@la_comete) June 20, 2021

"Our results are very disappointing, and certainly lower than our hopes and the latest polls", recognizes the deputy of Paris Gilles Le Gendre, in denim jacket and pants.

“We are facing a paradox,” he believes.

The president has a good popularity rating, he is credited with good voting intentions for 2022, but the presidential party is weak.

If Emmanuel Macron has indicated that he will not draw national lessons from these local elections, the presidential party will not be able to spare himself a questioning after this new rout at the polls.

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