In the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, elected LR let the storm pass after the failure of Valérie Pécresse
As candidates for the legislative elections are filed in the prefecture, the Gaullist family should not be directly present in all the constituencies of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, for the first time since 1945. However, it is still one of the main political forces in a rather conservative and moderate department. Alongside or even facing the local grid of François Bayrou and the current MoDem, this sensitivity is embodied with personalities such as Michèle Alliot-Marie, mayor of Saint-Jean-de-Luz and deputy from 1986 to 2012, also president of the RPR (Rally for the Republic) from 1999 to 2002. And from 1967 to 2002, Michel Inchauspé was the irremovable Gaullist deputy of the interior Basque Country.
For the legislative election next June, Les Républicains (LR) will be present in four of the six current constituencies which are spread out between Béarn and the Basque Country. They forfeit in two others. In the first (Pau), the departmental councilor Sandrine Lafargue opposes the outgoing MP MoDem Josy Poueyto. In the second (Pau-Est), LR trusts Jean-Brice Allemand (who belongs to the New Center of Hervé Morin) against Jean-Paul Mattei (MoDem) who is seeking his renewal. In the third, the departmental councilor Fabienne Costedoat-Diu tries her luck against the dissident socialist deputy David Habib. In the sixth (Biarritz), Fabrice-Sébastien Bach, deputy to Maider Arosteguy (LR mayor of the imperial city), competes against MoDem deputy Vincent Bru who is representing himself.
On the other hand, in Bayonne (fifth district), the Republicans are absent from the arena and will therefore not compete with Florence Lasserre, MoDem deputy. While they are however hardly lacking in local elected officials, or even candidates for previous legislative elections, particularly in Bayonne. Same absence in the fourth constituency (the Basque-Béarnaise mountain) where Jean Lassalle (Let’s resist!) pushes his brother Julien towards the deputation. In these two territories, the neo-Gaullists nevertheless govern large towns such as Anglet (38,000 inhabitants) and several rural municipalities.
When questioned, these women and men bearing the Gaullist heritage highlight the disastrous and historic result of Valérie Pécresse in the department (4.28% of the vote when Emmanuel Macron collected 27.80% in the first round). And they therefore point to the financial risk of an application that may not exceed this score. Some also insist on “their desire to remain mayor above all else”. All intend to let the storm pass and measure their support, such as Jean-François Irigoyen (LR mayor of Saint-Jean-de-Luz) who “keeps a distance from the legislative”. Caution is therefore essential, especially since, here, other elections are looming on the horizon of 2023, this time senatorial.