The day after the announcement of the withdrawal of his candidacy, Jérôme Peyrat was the guest this Thursday, May 19 on France Bleu Périgord. The mayor of La Roque-Gageac explained his choice to withdraw his candidacy: “I took the measure in the afternoon of the volume of reactions that there was in particular on social networks in relation to this candidacy, which I would like to say, above all, that the fight against the violence to women and in general, domestic violence, freedom of speech for women in relation to all this, it is obviously a fight to which I subscribe and it is that of my political family.
Was it a mistake to run after that conviction?
I took the measure that there was much more seriously than I could think a misunderstanding, obviously, and that my candidacy, for a certain number of things for which I can possibly come back, was assimilated to that of someone who could not embody those values.
So it was a mistake to introduce yourself?
I think, looking back on my part, definitely a lack of appreciation. Afterwards, the idea of trusting me in this constituency where I have been established for a long time. Contrary to what I have read. Twitter is still the ear, beyond pretty much and above all anything. I learned that I was parachuted into my native village where I have been mayor for 26 years and a number of journalistic approximations.
The reactions weren’t just on Twitter. Jérôme Peyrat also had it in the media. The opposition has spoken.
On the part of the opposition, there was a use of all this. I am fully aware of that. As long as it was a political use. Even if she was, in my opinion malicious and self-serving, I can say that in the end, these are things that we can face and change from the moment that there could be, in relation to this cause that is a great cause, a misunderstanding, I think that the best service that I could render to my political family in which I am today involved and in which I feel the best service that I could render, is indeed to withdraw this candidacy because I did not want to weaken this fight and this cause in any way.
Jacqueline Dubois announced that she was maintaining her candidacy. Outgoing deputy, she had not been reinvested by the Republic in motion. She was therefore facing you in the fourth constituency. She is now alone on that side, let’s say. Is she the right candidate for the presidential majority today?
This is really an assessment that does not belong to me and on which I will refrain from expressing an opinion. Contrary to what has been said by her and other commentators in my opinion who are not knowledgeable enough about how it happens, I am not a member of the nomination committee, I did not influence her so that she does not have the nomination and that I have it in her place. All of this comes under the order of fantasy in relation to the reality of the life of a political group. So I don’t know how to answer your question today.
You have been the target of criticism for several days. So, you said it, initially it was on Twitter, on social networks. Then it took on a little more importance. How does it feel to hear his name, see his picture posted everywhere? Has there been any impact on your life?
Personally, as someone who has been involved in politics for a number of years, that doesn’t matter to me. Where obviously this is unacceptable is the way in which loved ones can be affected by this: the parents, the children, the family… those with whom I work every day who are naturally affected. and bruised. I spend a lot of time these last hours with them, to take care of them, to say that they were not mistaken on my count. The values that I carry, I always carry them and I will naturally continue to defend them.
Is there anything you regret doing in this case?
Of course, we always regret not having had, at one time or another, a strong capacity for appreciation, to be better able to explain the nuances. I remember all the same, if you allow me that it is a court decision which concerns me, which dates from December 2020. In the context of a dispute which was qualified as marital. I was sentenced to a suspended fine of 3,000 euros in a case where my accuser was also sentenced to a firm fine and still before the courts. She was indicted last November, because she tries to harm me on social networks by exploiting all this. And people who are willing to take the trouble to look precisely at the context in question know all the same that it is far from being comparable to the absolute drama that we regularly have to face in this matter.
You give up politics, you continue?
I certainly do not abandon my territory, my native town, my local mandates. I am invested in tourism, waste collection and treatment of household waste which are daily battles in which I am invested.