As the new mayor of Pont-Saint-Esprit has resigned: “On a local and national scale, it's complete chaos”

Sur les allées du marché hebdomadaire, ce samedi matin. C. C. – Midi Libre

After the announcement on Friday of the resignation of Gérome Bouvier, and the campaign for the legislative elections was launched, there was astonishment on the weekly market.

Between the results of the European elections and its legislative consequences, and the day after the announcement of the resignation of mayor Gérome Bouvier six weeks after his election, a waitress in a café confides:< em> "Yes, people only talk about that." Leaning at the counter, this Spiripontain confirms and &amp ;quot;they talk a lot about the legislative elections". A trader in the balance aisles: "It’s surprising. I must admit that since his election people have expected a lot of things. I pity those who voted for him. When we see who replaces him, he would not have been elected." And to add, disappointed, &amp ;quot;nothing but the cleaning, nothing has changed, I don't believe in it anymore".  "It’s Valère [Segal] (*) who would take over, says a market gardener to a customer. He wanted to be mayor, that's good for him." A Spiripontaine teacher discovers this new municipal earthquake in front of a cheese stand. "I wasn’not aware of this. On a local scale as well as on a national scale, it's big chaos." The cheese maker, present on this market for two decades, notes: "In general, the national is in the image of the local." Since Covid, he notes, for everything concerning political life, and this Saturday morning again, "people speak very quietly. And others don't want to talk, they're kind of embarrassed”.

“A special city”  

Further away, Jean-Marie Daver is sitting at a table with friends. “Here, it's the local communists' office", he smiles. The small group discusses the choice of a socialist for the New Popular Front in the 4th constituency. Which does not delight either the communists or a rebel activist. But, “there is an agreement, we respect it”. Regarding the mayor's resignation, Jean-Marie Daver says he is very surprised. “We supported her candidacy. Mrs. Lapeyronie behaved indecently with the Communist Party. We had the choice between the RN and a citizen of Pont that I know." Aged 82, he allows himself this advice to the future mayor: "A mayor, it's not behind his desk that things happen, it's in the street, in contact, even if it means taking a beating."
Following the election of Bouvier, a Spiripontain who had voted for the local boy, while of extreme right leanings, spoke about his city and its upheavals."The Spiripontains, we are passionate, in the best, as in the worst." Jean-Marie Daver says it differently:"We are a special town: we have the oldest bridge in the Rhone valley and we have the most messy municipality in the Rhone valley."  This resident of a nearby village, of Belgian origin, is extremely worried about Europe. "These legislative elections are serious. The French did not vote against Europe but against one person. Politics is becoming taboo, many no longer feel like they are in a real democracy."

(*) The press release from the mayor's office sent on Friday announced the resignation of Gérome Bouvier for health reasons and that Valère Segal would take over. Until the next municipal council, the first deputy Claude Conan acts as interim.

“Worried” ex-elected officials

"Stupéfaction" of the Esprit Citoyen association, created by elected representatives from the majority; Lapeyronie, and chaired by Benjamin Desbrun, who reacted this Saturday June 15 in a press release : "The commune, in the grip of à instability generated by the governance of Ms. Lapeyronie, was to regain serenity. and today, unfortunately, the opposite is happening. We have been é surprised to learn the name of his successor. In all local examples, when the mayor was prevented, it was the first deputy who took over. The choice made here is different and we are very worried about what happens next in a municipal council which has already made decisions. recorded several resignations after a month and a half."

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