"It's not good, we're not going to lie," breathes a Walker, while the results fall in Paris, Lyon, Marseille. In the capital, Agnès Buzyn came third, far behind her rivals Anne Hidalgo (PS) and Rachida Dati (LR), the dissident Cédric Villani finishing on a very small score. Ditto for the candidate LREM, pro-Gérard Collomb, in Lyon (Rhône), where EELV has a serious head start. The strategists know it, in the capital of Gaules, become that of Macronie, the results are not good, on bottom of fratricidal war and dissidence.
Upset, too, the Walkers of Strasbourg, a large city considered to be winnable. The LREM candidate, Alain Fontanel, is beaten by the Greens. In Bordeaux, Lille, Besançon, Perpignan, Grenoble ... LREM candidates most often finish third, even fourth. "But for some with honorable scores around 20%," consoles a manager. Nevertheless ... Some, in the ranks of the majority let slip this term: "wanked". Even among the leavers they supported, LREM accuses disappointments, as in Nancy or Biarritz.
Cuckoo strategy
In the early evening, the party boss, Stanislas Guerini, is reassured by thinking of Tourcoing (where Gérald Darmanin was re-elected yesterday), Pau, Vernon, Coulommiers, Dunkerque, Niort, Nevers, Angers… " the idea of the sanction vote against the presidential majority, he believes. Objectively, there are many mayors or candidates that we have supported who are doing very well. There is an election that gives a bonus to stability. We continue to think that this is a local election, which we continue to consider as such. "
Result of this cuckoo strategy, he is hopeful of fulfilling his "very humble" objective of having 10,000 LREM municipal councilors elected. "It is also work that will be useful for establishing elected representatives," insists the LREM general delegate.
Notably, the ministers from the right are doing well. Can you play on the balance of power between the different wings of the majority? "If the Prime Minister is in trouble, it will not be the same story," observes an elected official from the left wing. Health crisis obliges, the disagreements which were announced could be put on mute. "Already that controversy would be frowned upon from the opposition, so no one will take the risk of creating tension," says an LREM MP.
Hand held out
As soon as he left the France 2 stage, this Sunday, Stanislas Guerini, returned to HQ. The beginning of "a long night", to "exchange with the candidates" who is asked not to take a position before having discussed with the management. A cell has been specially set up.
Already, a line is emerging. "I want to bring together in the second round all those who support the president," said Guerini, referring to "an outstretched hand" to the dissidents but also to the allied formations that had left their side in certain cities. In the event of RN risk, "either we withdraw or we merge with the other republican lists", he continues, calling on the other parties "to do the same".
As for the mergers, they will be done in "political coherence", he promises. If discussions are thus possible with environmentalists in Lille, this will not be the case where EELV looks to its left. So many discussions subject to major uncertainty. "If there is a second round ..." as Guerini says.
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VIDEO. Municipal: Edouard Philippe evokes a possible postponement of the second round