These candidates went under the radar. But the second round of the municipal elections come, they will round off the accounts of La République en Marche (LREM). If, in addition to its own investitures, the presidential party has increased official support and alliances with outgoing mayors, it also sends some infantrymen in ... submarines.
Explanation from a member of the National Investiture Commission (CNI): “Some mayors did not want to make an alliance with us because they thought it would serve them. But they also didn't want to have an LREM list in front of them. So, they take Walkers on their lists, as long as we don't talk about them. "These did not want to" lose the nomination of their party "or" refuse any political label ", adds another member of the CNI. And negotiated on this mode: "Designate us your leader and I take two, three, four or five." But I don't want a logo or a press release. "
The process is taking place, according to our information, in 20% of medium-sized cities with more than 9,000 inhabitants, in which LREM has not invested in candidates, i.e. just under 200 cities. Which could, we calculate at HQ, bring back to the party a small thousand of elected officials. The Marchers activists were also encouraged to look at the municipalities of less than 5000 inhabitants.
Contribute to the territorial network of the party
A contribution, ultimately, not negligible at the time of the accounts, since the party has set itself as a “modest” objective - “we did not take too many risks, useless to do too much harm”, breath a strategist - to have 10,000 municipal councilors elected. Because if these candidates do not appear on the lists with the LREM label, "we, in the end, we will necessarily count them", smiles a manager.
So many elected officials who will contribute to the “territorial network” of the party. "This will prepare the next generation," says a member of the HQ, where we have in mind to make them join the association of MP Stéphane Travert, "The Republic together".
A pillar of the CNI, wishes to point out, this is not a strategy specific to LREM since “LR and the PS do the same. Another smiles: "Sometimes we try to be smart. "
