“We raise our hands, we no longer touch our copy.
"Well, certainly it is not a question of a test of the bac, even less perhaps of philosophy - whatever - but of the end of the campaign of this first round of the regional elections programmed this Sunday (closing of the offices of vote at 8 p.m.).
Two months of battle between the six main candidates around transport, high schools, agriculture, business aid and security.
They are six to dream of digesting Ile-de-France and its 12.2 million inhabitants and its 5 billion euros budget.
Six to hope to be enthroned for six years at the headquarters of the region in Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis).
Safety a major issue
Valérie Pécresse (ex-LR today Libres!), Outgoing president, appears as the big favorite to her own succession. The various polls place it well in the lead with 35 to 40% of the voting intentions. His last weeks, it was with the young wolf of the National Rally, Jordan Bardella that we saw him cross swords around ... security. This theme, dear to the right, but also erected as an absolute dogma by the far right, crystallized the attacks, the speeches. The RN accused his opponent of wanting to appropriate “his campaign files” when the Pécresse clan explained simply returning to the fundamentals of its values. In the end, security is a big issue because it affects two key skills in the region: transport and high schools.
In fact, women in particular do not feel quiet during the day but also in the evening when it comes to returning by metro, RER or Transilien to their homes, whether after work or an outing with friends. Verbal and / or physical aggression, heavy looks, everything goes. On the outskirts of high schools, this time it is the brawls and wars between gangs that unleash passions whether in Paris or Essonne, Val-de-Marne or Seine-Saint-Denis. In both cases, the response of the main players is secure. More police officers in transport, more video surveillance but also more prevention in front of schools. The recruitment of hundreds of police officers is announced and even of a joint command post to facilitate the follow-up of the attackers and the intervention of the police force.There is no doubt that this theme will weigh heavily when the ballot is placed in the ballot box. Laurent Saint-Martin (LREM) promises the arrival of some 500 agents to ensure more serenity in the trains.
Free transport or not?
At the same time, there is obviously transport in the broad sense. Whether it is about getting around by metro, bus, RER or suburban train. Ceiling price for travel - 4 euros for any trip, even at the other end of the region for Valérie Pécresse - free for all, everything is there. Audrey Pulvar (Ile-de-France in common) tirelessly campaigned for everyone to be able to travel without having to pay a single penny. A demagogic project as its cost seems enormous? No, the Parisian candidate wishes to finance this measure with an ecological tax. A choice that puzzles the Greens and their head of the list, Julien Bayou. If the latter beats the pavement and the countryside, wishing to develop organic farming,by pushing back pollutants and giving the green economy a real chance to revive the region, it is not in favor of this general free admission. For him, it will be necessary to make choices. Dispense part of the population yes, all no. An opinion shared by Clémentine Autain (PCF-LFI) who campaigns for free education for 18-25 and the most precarious.
Towards a quadrangular?
Last question mark, and not the least because it will have consequences especially on the left: abstention. During the partial legislative elections in the XXth arrondissement in Paris 15 and 16% of those registered went to the first and then second round. If this were to be repeated this Sunday, Audrey Pulvar, Julien Bayou or Clémentine Autain might not be able to stay in the second round. No big deal, you tell me because they have already planned to discuss the night from Sunday to Monday to unite. Except that an "elimination" from this meeting could spell the end of hopes in the negotiations for some like Julien Bayou also national secretary of EELV but also of Audrey Pulvar who dreams of giving the region back to the Socialist Party and of thank Anne Hidalgo for her trust.Whatever happens, the one of the three who will arrive in pole position on Sunday evening will be designated the flag bearer of the union of the left to challenge Pécresse, Bardella and Laurent Saint-Martin. A quadrangular is therefore looming for June 27.