Legislative 2024: a triangular in Lozère in the second round, unless Pierre Morel-À-L’Huissier withdraws

Tous les regards se tournent vers Pierre Morel-À-L'Huissier, avant le second tour. Midi Libre – Michael Esdourrubailh

The outgoing MP, in an unfortunate position, more than nine points behind Luc-Étienne Gousseau (RN), gives himself time to think before announcing whether he is holding his ground or not. He has until Tuesday July 2, 6 p.m., to make a decision.

The question was obviously on everyone's lips, this Sunday, June 30, 2024, at the end of the first round of the legislative elections in Lozère. Qualified for the second round, with 24.04% of the ballots cast, or 10,451 of the votes, but in an unfortunate position far behind the New Popular Front candidate Sophie Pantel (35.18 ;% of ballots cast, 15 292 votes) and that of the National Rally Luc-Étienne Gousseau (33.91 % of ballots cast, 14 743 votes), Pierre Morel-À-L&rsquo ;Bailiff (DVD) will he continue or will he withdraw ?

Reached by telephone, the outgoing deputy (the only candidate with Annie Souchon of Lutte Ouvrière not to have gone to the prefecture, Editor's note) remained evasive, only a few minutes after the announcement final results: "I don't know how to answer this question. It’s too early. I need to analyze the number of votes, look at where there is potential." The former mayor of Fournels has until 6 p.m., this Tuesday, July 2, to make a decision.

549 votes between Sophie Pantel and Luc-Étienne Gousseau

The new departmental delegate of the RN, for his first participation in an election, is therefore trailing the president of the Department, already a candidate in 2012, by only 549 votes. finds himself in a position of strength to call for the withdrawal of the outgoing MP, he prefers to do so with restraint: "I have nothing to ask him. He has twenty-two years of seniority. I’m coming. I appeal to his conscience, to the conscience of an experienced politician who could not agree to give the constituency to the left."

Sophie Pantel also makes a gentle appeal to Pierre Morel-À-L’Huissier, who has been constantly attacking her during the campaign. "We said that if we had come in third place, we would have clearly called for voting for the best-placed Republican candidate. So I would have called for voting for him." The candidate of the Union of the Left, like Luc-Étienne Gousseau, also anticipates the end of the reign of the man who has been a deputy since June 16, 2002. "He is not compatible with the RN. I can't imagine him ending his career by promoting the election of a National Rally MP."

Michel Guiral's voters to convince

For the three qualified, there will also remain the voters of Michel Guiral (DIV) to convince. The deputy mayor of Saint-Sauveur-de-Peyre came fourth, with 6.04% of the ballots cast, or 2,627 votes. The former socialist, who joined Jean Lassalle's Resistons party, did not give instructions to vote for the second round during his visit to the prefecture. He too should make a decision within the week.

A small political earthquake shakes Lozère. If Pierre Morel-À-L’Huissier seems closer than ever to the exit, it is indeed he who has the cards in hand to swing this election in one direction or another. What choice will he make? Allow the election of Sophie Pantel, with whom the relationship once again deteriorated upon the announcement of her candidacy ;? Or serve as a stepping stone for Luc-Étienne Gousseau and the National Rally to enter the Palais Bourbon ?

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