It's a first. Martine Aubry has never been in such difficulty in Lille less than a week from the second round. In her first three elections, the socialist had managed to outrun the right in the first round, to better defeat it in the second. Almost a health walk in the capital of Flanders, whose heart beats historically on the left ... But in 2020, the situation changed. Martine Aubry must now face her historic allies, the environmentalists. Not the same story. Stéphane Bally, head of the EELV list, came second in the first round (24.53%), worrying the outgoing mayor (29.80%). And in view of the latest polls, very clever who can predict who will recover the seat of mayor next Sunday ... Especially since the LREM candidate, Violette Spillebout, who arrived third on March 15 (17.53%), could well steal a few votes precious.
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For the last few days of the campaign, Martine Aubry is therefore shooting at the Greens. Guest of the "Talk Le Figaro" Monday, the socialist mayor said that Lille environmentalists were, unlike her, only "people who live well" . “I would like our six neighborhoods, which are now in the majority, to be able to support us. By conviction, I think there will be no ecological transition if there is no social justice, " she said. "I am proud to have kept the working classes" , also wanted to remind the outgoing mayor.
Martine Aubry, however, assured that she had attempted "from the first day" a "gathering" with environmentalists. "It appeared to us quite certain that they had no desire to campaign with us," she lamented, referring them to "the responsibility" for this division.
They saw me work. They know that I am always transparent and concerted
Martine AubryMore improbable: in this uncertain final stretch, Martine Aubry can count on the support of her former opponents in the municipal council. The Lille right has indeed mixed in the duel between socialists and environmentalists, calling last week to vote for "the lady of the 35 hours".
Support that does not surprise him. “They saw me work. They know that I am always transparent and concerted, ” she assured. The socialist believes that many are also "worried" about the future of the city with the economic crisis that follows the health crisis. “I worked with them during this confinement. We have done a tremendous job. They saw that I was there, that I worked with them, that I had the skills and the shoulders, ” she said.
“With me, we know that when I say something, I commit. And when I commit, I want to. The people of Lille know my skills, my character, ” further certified the mayor. Before quoting François Mitterrand: "When you think something is right, you keep your neck stiff" (sic).
"Go vote!"
If she admitted having "hesitated a lot" before standing for re-election, Martine Aubry has swept her doubts away. "When I saw the virus and what we did during the confinement, the deconfinement, and what happens, I said to myself that I had done well because we will have to bear the shock", a- she warned.
For these last days of the campaign, the mayor wants above all to convince the abstainers of the first round (more than 67%) to go to the polls on Sunday. As everywhere in France, many voters preferred not to travel on March 15 because of the Covid-19. "I tell them clearly all the sanitary measures are there, the virus is fading even if we must continue to be careful, and therefore go and vote!" Asked the mayor of Lille convinced of the reservoir of votes represented by the abstainers. Will a defeat on Sunday cause him to leave politics? Unequivocal answer: "I don't put myself in this hypothesis."
