While the list led by Alain Rousset is credited with 30.99% of the votes in New Aquitaine, followed by that of Edwige Diaz (19.17%) and that abstention reached records, as in all regions of France, the outgoing socialist president of Nouvelle-Aquitaine reacts this Sunday, the evening of the first round of regional elections.
France Bleu Gironde: You were behind the National Rally, you are finally 10 points ahead. Were you surprised by these results?
Alain Rousset: Not that much, I thought that all the work that had been done and the human contact, which is my hallmark, had paid off. In the same way, there was a form of Republican outburst, even if there was a lot of abstention … I did not see myself behind the National Rally in any case, I would have been hurt!
You talk about a Republican outburst but two out of three voters did not go to the polls?
So, yes there is a problem of participation, which shows that we have educational work to do, but also legislative change. It is not normal that we are the only country where postal voting is not developed. Should we also maintain the vote on Sunday? Without going as far as compulsory voting, we have to think about it.
Are you going to discuss with Nicolas Thierry (EELV) for the second round or is it excluded?
No it is not excluded! Nicolas Thierry is my vice-president, he was my collaborator for a long time. I am simply embarrassed by certain radical positions concerning the ecological transition. We need to be patient, educate, and explain things a lot. You cannot ask farmers to switch from one form of work to another without accompanying them. It is the trust that I can have with the agricultural world that is at stake, and this trust I must deserve it and not rush anyone. “
Does that mean you think you need him?
I need everyone, I need him and the others! I’m someone from the rally, so I’m not going to change even at my age!
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