Nevers Election: Macron’s Mayor Faces Tight Triangular Runoff

Nevers Municipal Elections: Macron Ally Faces Tight Race Amidst Shifting Alliances

The mayoral race in Nevers, a city of 33,000 inhabitants in France’s Nièvre department, has become a key test for President Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party ahead of the second round of municipal elections. Incumbent Denis Thuriot, a prominent figure within the Macronist camp, narrowly avoided a four-way contest thanks to a last-minute withdrawal, but now faces a potentially precarious three-way battle to retain his position. The political maneuvering underscores the challenges facing Macron’s party as it seeks to consolidate its gains at the local level, particularly in a context of national political disenchantment.

The unexpected twist came with the decision of Amandine Boujlilat, a former deputy mayor who left Thuriot’s coalition and formed her own independent list, to withdraw from the race. Boujlilat’s list garnered 11.25% of the vote in the first round, and her stated aim was to create a broad opposition to Thuriot. She announced her withdrawal “to block” Thuriot’s re-election, but stopped short of endorsing any particular candidate. This decision, while preventing a four-way contest, followed the failure of negotiations between Boujlilat and the other qualifying candidates.

A History of Shifting Alignments in Nevers

Nevers holds particular significance as one of the few cities of its size currently governed by Renaissance. Thuriot’s initial ascent to power in 2014 marked the end of 43 years of socialist rule, a shift he engineered after leaving the Socialist Party in 2013, frustrated by internal divisions. He founded the “Nevers à venir” (Nevers to Approach) movement, aiming to attract “good ideas from both the right and the left.” This strategy proved successful, but the current election cycle demonstrates the fragility of such cross-party appeals.

Boujlilat, positioned on the left despite not being formally affiliated with a party, had proposed a unified opposition list encompassing both right and left-leaning voters. However, her demand to remain the lead candidate proved a sticking point. Wilfrid Séjeau, the leader of the left-wing coalition that secured 30% of the vote in the first round – closely trailing Thuriot’s 34.49% – lamented that Boujlilat “demanded to remain the top candidate despite only receiving 11%.” Séjeau believes a victory over the incumbent is still within reach, hoping to restore the left’s presence in the city formerly held by Prime Minister Pierre Bérégovoy.

Xavier Morel, another former Thuriot deputy who ran a separate dissident list (10.86% in the first round), too rejected Boujlilat’s proposal. Instead, he opted to merge his list with that of Baptiste Dubost, the candidate from Les Républicains (LR), who failed to qualify for the second round after receiving 8.7% of the vote. Morel characterized the alliance as “diverse right,” while emphasizing its non-partisan nature. He co-founded the “apolitique” movement with Thuriot in 2013, a foundation that propelled Thuriot to the mayoralty.

Macron’s Nevers Laboratory and National Implications

Thuriot’s alignment with Emmanuel Macron in 2017 transformed Nevers into a testing ground for Macronist policies. Le Monde reports that the city has become a key example of the President’s vision for local governance. The outcome of the Nevers election will therefore be closely watched as a barometer of Macron’s continued appeal and the viability of his strategy to build a broad coalition across the political spectrum. The stakes are particularly high given the broader context of national political uncertainty and the recent legislative elections.

The involvement of national figures in the Nevers campaign highlights its importance. In July 2024, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal accompanied Thuriot during a campaign visit to support Perrine Goulet, the Ensemble coalition’s candidate in the legislative elections. Images from Getty Images show Attal and Thuriot walking alongside Goulet, demonstrating the national party’s commitment to the region. Another Getty Images photo captures Attal smoking during the campaign visit, further illustrating the intensity of the political engagement.

The Triangulaire and What Lies Ahead

Morel expressed confidence in Thuriot’s vulnerability, stating, “Yes, Denis Thuriot can still be beaten.” His alliance with Dubost aims to consolidate the right-wing vote, potentially creating a stronger challenge to the incumbent. The resulting three-way contest – Thuriot representing the center-right, Séjeau leading the left, and the Morel-Dubost alliance on the right – promises a tight and unpredictable race.

The dynamics of the second round will depend heavily on voter turnout and the ability of each candidate to mobilize their base. Boujlilat’s decision not to endorse a candidate leaves her supporters potentially up for grabs, adding another layer of uncertainty. The outcome will likely hinge on which candidate can successfully appeal to voters disillusioned with the traditional political parties and seeking a fresh alternative.

Procedural Next Steps: The second round of the Nevers municipal elections is scheduled to take place on [Date to be confirmed – not in source]. Following the vote, the results will be certified by the local electoral commission. If no candidate secures an absolute majority, the candidate with the most votes will be declared the winner. The newly elected mayor will then form a municipal council and begin the process of governing the city for the next six years.