“Fifty times, we have announced my death, but I always come back to life”, trumpets Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, in front of his permanence as deputy of the eighth district of Essonne. A few minutes earlier, this Sunday evening, around 9:30 p.m., the sovereignist deputy, president of Stand up France, had just made a grand entrance into the parking lot where his troops had gathered. “I don’t have the results yet, but I know it’s good,” he said, before sharing the first estimates on his Yerres. “I will be over 65%, much more even,” he says.
Here is Nicolas Dupont-Aignan left for a sixth term, without interruption, as deputy for this constituency, which includes Yerres, Brunoy, Crosne, Vigneux-sur-Seine and Montegeron. Unstoppable since 1995, whatever he does or says on the national scene.
Tight game like in 2017
The last time, in the 2017 legislative elections, it was still just past. A few weeks earlier, the president of Debout la France, eliminated from the first round of the presidential election, tied a government agreement with Marine Le Pen in exchange for the promise to be appointed Prime Minister if the FN candidate won. An alliance which had crumpled up to Yerres, yet his stronghold which he led from 1995 to 2017, “Three times re-elected at 80%”, boasts of his campaign site. But in May 2017, the atmosphere was rather at daily demonstrations at the foot of the town hall to cries of “What a shame! » or « Yerrois betrayed ». Above all, at the end of the first round of legislative elections that year, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan was six points behind his opponent, invested by En Marche. A big slap. “On the evening of the second round, there was a TV floor waiting to see Nicolas fall,” says Pascal Robert, deputy secretary general of Debout la France, showing the permanence of his candidate. In the end, Nicolas Dupont-Aignant managed to close his gap, winning with 52.05% of the vote against 47.95% for his opponent. Already, he could say thank you to Yerres where he gleaned 62.78% of the votes cast.
At these legislative news, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan did not have the game won in advance either. Admittedly, he was in the lead on the evening of the first round, June 12 with 33.34% of the votes, against 30.50% for Emilie Chazette-Guillet, the Nupes candidate… But with, as elsewhere, a strong abstention (52, 59%), so that the percentages do not always reflect the differences in votes. There were only 1,005, in the end between the two candidates. In other words, nothing. Nothing in any case irretrievable for the candidate Nupes especially since once again, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan could trip over the carpet of his national positions. Since the start of the health crisis, the president of Debout la France has made himself one of the spokespersons for antivax and anti-pass. Alongside Florian Philippot, Francis Lalanne or Martine Wonner, severely beaten in the first round, recalled Marianne.
“He managed to create such a microcosm in Yerres”
Could it end up playing for Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, in his constituency? “People do not always agree with me here, but they know that I am straight and sincere, that I am close to them and that I defend them,” said the sovereignist candidate. In Yerres, it is undeniable. The city voted more than 67.51% for its ex-mayor. Claire Charansonnet, municipal councilor of the opposition (Yerres in common), is not so surprised. “Here, he has managed to create such a microcosm favoring people who look like him but excluding everyone else that his national positions have very little impact on local elections, she believes. A large part of Yerrois want above all to remain in this self-segregation. »
But in the end, in this 8th district, only Vigneux-sur-Seine placed Emilie Chazette-Guillet in the lead. Everywhere else, Dupont-Aigan came first, even in Crosne and Montgéron unlike the first round.
“I don’t know if Emmanuel Macron will be able to complete his five-year term”
All this gives a wide final victory for the candidate of Debout la France with 57.26%, against 42.74% for his opponent. Participation remained almost identical in the first round, with a rate of 47.53%. What leave a bitter taste to the candidate Nupes who made participation the key issue of the second round. In the afternoon, she still hoped for citizen mobilization in working-class neighborhoods, “where Nicolas Dupont-Aignan’s policy left the most people behind”. Finally, it did not take place or was not sufficient. “On the other hand, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan visibly benefited from the postponement of the votes of the voters of Mohamed Bida, candidate of Ensemble! in the first round, she criticizes. This is proof that the Republican front to which the party of the presidential majority often calls, is only valid when it suits them. Otherwise, allying with the extreme right does not bother them at all. »
Report of the Macronist voices or not, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan did not wait long Sunday evening, before welcoming the rout of Ensemble!. “I don’t know if Emmanuel Macron will be able to complete his five-year term,” he said, without hiding his satisfaction. (…) This man is dangerous for France and, finally, he is blocked. I welcome it. »