Alexandre Bozio 1:40 p.m., March 2, 2024

Didier Cujives, socialist mayor of the town of Paulhac, decided to completely change his daily life.

In January, the elected official announced his future resignation.

His new project: to travel around the world with his partner at the wheel of a beautifully renovated truck.

Leave politics and Haute-Garonne to travel around the world.

This is the astonishing project of Didier Cujives, socialist mayor of the town of Paulhac, located near Toulouse.

Officially announced to his constituents at the end of January, the decision of the man who spent 35 years of his life in politics will be effective on April 30, 2024 and will lead to his resignation from all his functions, namely mayor, departmental councilor and president of the Committee. departmental tourism department of Haute-Garonne.

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Retiring at 64

His succession is already in preparation.

While his partner, a young Kurdish man of 33 years old, will take his place on the departmental council, Didier Cujives indicated that it is a woman who would take the head of the town hall.

“I announced my desire to leave in January 2024 during my wishes and since then I have been preparing my departure. I brought together my municipal team and several people expressed their desire to succeed me,” he assured during an interview with our colleagues from 

Ouest-France

.

We talked about it and it will be a woman.

Elected officials will of course have to vote now...". 

Even if he assures that his departure is in no way linked to a lack of motivation or desire, the future retired elected official is convinced of the need for a renewal of the political class.

"I always have a lot of fun and I have the desire to do well... But it has to stop! (...) I want to leave. There has to be an end to all this. The renewal of political life is indispensable and necessary."

Especially since a departure at 64, as required by Emmanuel Macron's new retirement reform, is not due to chance.

"I'm a normal citizen, so I don't understand why some people could stay in office longer."

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South America, treks and pancake workshops

But the man who joined the PS in 1979 intends to enjoy his retirement and it is on the other side of the Atlantic that he will continue his adventure with his partner.

Together, they bought and completely renovated a truck, equipping it with photovoltaic panels and dry toilets.

They also made it capable of rolling on any surface before naming it Ulysses.

Over the next two years, the couple plans to travel across South America behind the wheel of the car, starting with Argentina and Uruguay.

Passionate about the mountains, the duo also dreams of "exchanging with indigenous peoples, walking treks in the mountains, but also going woofing (editor's note: working voluntarily on an organic farm in exchange for room and board)" across five continents. 

But they also plan to introduce small French specialties to the four corners of the globe: “We will prepare pancakes and pound cakes which we will distribute!”.

A great project which will begin on May 5, only a few days after his farewell to the town hall.