This is news that seems to fall from the sky even though the president of Nîmes Métropole certainly did not see it coming.
Last Sunday’s senatorial elections offer an incredible chance for Franck Proust to return to Brussels and Strasbourg faster than expected. A little flashback. We are in 2019. To his great regret, Nîmes finds himself in 11th position on the Right and Center list for the European elections. Considering his team’s score, he was not elected. Only nine of his LR and Centrist colleagues entered the EU Parliament. A disappointment given his honorable mandate and the defense of numerous French and regional issues. But the political world is not always grateful. Except that in the last few days, everything has changed. The Republicans have just elected Agnès Evren to the Senate, number two on the European list five years ago. It cannot accumulate. His designated successor should logically be Frédéric Péchenard, placed in ninth position. But the current LR vice-president of the Île-de-France region has just announced that he is not interested. Behind him, we find Laurence Sailliet. The latter slammed the door of the Republicans shortly after the 2019 election. Then, in the process, she announced her departure from political life to finally join the show Do not touch My TV of Cyril Hanouna. Since then, she has supported Emmanuel Macron more than her former comrades. Still, she could decide, against all odds, to claim the position. So comes 11th position, that of Franck Proust. The president of Nîmes Métropole sees a golden opportunity opening up before him to join the two assemblies of the old continent where he has enjoyed the most in his political career. But agreeing to join Strasbourg means giving up Nîmes metropolis first. Right now and now. Who to replace him at the Agglo? Even for eight months, until the next European elections in June 2024? And after ? Would he be ready to give up on Nîmes town hall in 2026? It is very likely that the professional insurer will be able to perfectly negotiate its future place on the list of the Right and the Center for the next European deadlines. At least 4th or 6th place. To be sure of being re-elected for five more years. Especially since one last asset exists for Franck Proust: his name is Éric Ciotti, the boss of the Republicans. The deputy for the 1st constituency of Alpes-Maritimes could draw from the list. And everyone knows that the two men have an excellent relationship. Last detail which may be important: a serving MEP benefits from parliamentary immunity until the end of his mandate. The legal calendar for the tenant of the Coliseum could therefore be postponed indefinitely… Unless, as has been rumored in Montpellier for several days, the match before the court of appeal would already be over. The judges could possibly expedite the case by lining up behind the last opinion given by the court of cassation…
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