Nelson Chaudon elected mayor of Beaucaire: “It's an honor, a responsibility as heavy as it is magnificent”

Nelson Chaudon takes over from Julien Sanchez as mayor of Beaucaire. Midi Libre – MIKAËL ANISSET

At the time of the vote this Monday afternoon at the town hall. Midi Libre – MIKAËL ANISSET

Le maire au milieu de ses adjoints tous renouvelés. Midi Libre – MIKAËL ANISSET

Élu député européen, l’ancien maire Julien Sanchez, qui a été aux manettes durant dix ans à la mairie de Beaucaire, a cédé sa place. Nelson Chaudon a été élu maire ce lundi 29 juillet avec 27 voix pour et cinq contre.

In the sweltering heat and on the last day of the Fêtes de la Madeleine, excitement spread through the ranks of the Beaucaire municipal council on Monday afternoon, July 29, during the election of the new mayor Nelson Chaudon.

The parliamentary collaborator of the National Rally MP Yoann Gillet, aged 31, municipal councillor responsible for sports associations, was elected with 27 votes for and five against, those of the opposition ranks. He thus takes over from Julien Sanchez, mayor since 2014, elected MEP last June and who is struck by the accumulation of mandates.

Under the eyes of MPs

Once handed the tricolour sash, the new magistrate of the city shared his emotion by paying tribute to his parents, present at the Town Hall, to the values ​​instilled by them: "I am a Beaucairois by blood and heart!", he said in a packed room and in front of RN deputies Yoann Gillet, to whom he paid tribute, Sébastien Chenu, former vice-president of the National Assembly, Sylvie Josserand and Emmanuel Taché de la Pagerie.

Nelson Chaudon especially recalled that this role of mayor was considered "as an honor, a responsibility as heavy as it was magnificent. […] I intend to serve the city with all my strength, seven days a week and 24 hours a day, with my sole objective: to make Beaucaire shine as it has for ten years" .

The opportunity for him to thank former mayor Julien Sanchez who trusted him four years ago. “He introduced me to real politics, the kind that serves others, the taste for commitment, for public affairs.” The mayor of Beaucaire indicated that he would closely follow the file for the new Sud Canal district and that of the second phase of work on the Nîmes road launched in 2025.

The opposition saw other candidates

In the midst of this chorus of praise, Luc Perrin, municipal opponent, wanted to make his dissenting voice known, in particular on the results of Julien Sanchez's ten-year term: “I would like to point out the great disorganization that reigns in our municipal services. You will give the illusion for a few months, but this management seems suicidal to me for the city.”

The choice of Nelson Chaudon surprised the opposition, which believed that there were other more experienced elected officials to be appointed for this position: “This worries me because I think of the skills needed to manage Beaucaire with its 50 million euros; budget and its 300 employees." A dig that earned a first tackle from the new mayor who found that the opposition lacked arguments and was not very constructive. Finally, it should be noted that the nine deputies were all reappointed to their functions following the vote at the municipal council.