They believed in it until the end. Feverish, on their mobile phones, before the final announcement: “Françoise was beaten by around 1,000 votes tonight”. This is one of the illustrations of the crumbling of the presidential majority after the second round of the legislative elections, Sunday June 19. Françoise Ballet-Blu, outgoing MP for the Ensemble majority, is ejected from his seat in the first district of Vienne. She fails with 1,001 votes less than Lisa Belluco, the Nupes candidate, who won 51.3% of the vote. Françoise Ballet-Blu, who became a deputy during her mandate, is the only majority candidate to lose in the department.
At the candidate’s HQ, rue du Rondy, north-east of Poitiers, the activists, often very young, are in tears. “It is complicated”admits Noah, his eyes reddened. “We are very disappointed because we imagined her, and only her again for five years.” “We are also disappointed with the personality of our candidate”explains Léna, who is part of the close team of Françoise Ballet-Blu. “We were also fighting to defend a vision of politics, which is not done with career policies but with people who have lived in civil society, who know businesses or associative commitment.”
Misunderstanding and concerns
Françoise Ballet-Blu, very moved, joined her HQ nearly two hours after the publication of the results. “In any case, thank you all for this superb campaign by your side”says the entrepreneur. “I had an absolutely fabulous time.” Leaning on the high table, Estelle has a closed face. “We’re here, we’re all devastated… I don’t even have the words anymore”says the one who joined Françoise Ballet-Blu after an invitation to the National Assembly. “I don’t really do politics”explains Estelle. “It’s more in relation to his project, his values, his qualities, his personality … His goal was for there to be many more women this time in the National Assembly.”
It’s a shame for the territory, it won’t be defended as she did. So we have a lot to lose! – An entrepreneur, support of Françoise Ballet-Blu.
On the other side of the table, opposite the triangle sandwiches, Maud worries about the national results. “I find it difficult to understand people”explains the elected opposition representative in Poitiers. “I find it difficult to understand their vote, we no longer know for what or for whom they are voting, for what values … Me, I see two extremes united in the National Assembly, and that does not please me.” Françoise Ballet-Lu, CEO of a communications company, was also supported by business leaders. “She is an elected official, she has been very present for companies”says one of them. “It will obviously not be the case with her successor, Lisa Belluco. It’s a shame for the territory, it will not be defended as she did. So we have a lot to lose!”
Activists are already trying to project themselves into the future and do not hesitate to imagine feedback from their candidate on the benches of the deputies. “We remain active for Françoise”explains Alice, one of the supporters. “And in five years, we get the mandate!”