Outgoing Renaissance MP Patrick Vignal, who came 3rd in the 9th constituency of Hérault, announced to Midi Libre that he was throwing in the towel

Patrick Vignal n’est officiellement plus député de l’Hérault, il se retire de la course. Midi Libre – SYLVIE CAMBON

Executive of the Macronist party in the region, Patrick Vignal believes that he is no longer able to win in the second round of the legislative elections and calls for "not to give a single vote to the RN’ quot;. A page is turning for the former socialist, elected to the constituency since 2012.

Patrick Vignal withdraws from the race for the national assembly. Arrived 3rd, Sunday evening, in the 9th constituency of Hérault with 25% of the votes behind the LR-RN Charles Alloncle (36.43%) and the Insoumise Nadia Belaouni (29 .27%), the outgoing Renaissance MP believes that he is no longer able to turn the game around in the second round. "I’ai received numerous calls, including from the President of the Republic, to ask me not to abdicate, that victory was possible. But with 2,500 votes behind, the match is over", analyzes the one who has been elected since 2012.

"It’s not a wave, it’s a breaking wave"

Patrick Vignal gives a clear reading of this result: "It's not a wave, it's a breaking wave. I went back onto a tatami (he's a judoka, Editor's note),but we knew, since the European elections, that today there are two sacred blocs: on one side, that around the National Rally, on the other the Left Front . They (the left) managed to come together, which we, Macronie, were unable to do, he said, clearly describing "a Macron clearance. "It’s the game of democracy, so it is normal that I put down the suit and tie", adds- he, noting in passing that his personal equation allowed him to do a little better than most of his fellow deputies.

"Neither Bardella nor Mélenchon Prime Minister"

For the second round, Patrick Vignal wants to be just as clear: "JI don't want there to be just one voice for the RN. My mentor was called Georges Frêche and he always fought the National Front. I owe him that, because I owe him everything", he said. This is not, however, a strong message to call for voting for her rival Insoumise of the New Popular Front Nadia Belaouni. "Things would have been simpler if I had had in front of me, like Laurence Cristol (on the 3rd constituency) or Patricia Mirallès (on the 1st constituency) a socialist or environmentalist candidate. I am very embarrassed with some of the Insoumis and I do not want either Jordan Bardella or Jean-Luc Mélenchon as Prime Minister. However, he calls his voters at "go to vote".

"Yes, I will go back"

He who has also distinguished himself by his media activism in recent years hopes, in the future, to be able to contribute to rebuilding a central bloc, which tends to turn more to the left. "I regret today not having tried to weigh more". And if Emmanuel Macron dissolves the’ national assembly in a year ? "Yes, I will go back, because I like it" , he concludes.

Interview to be found on Midilibre.fr and in our editions of Tuesday July 2.