In the Cantal prefecture, outgoing socialist mayor Pierre Mathonier is not running for re-election in the municipal elections, paving the way for new faces. His deputy Valérie Rueda launches her PS campaign, facing candidates like Patrick Casagrande, close to Laurent Wauquiez. This unprecedented situation since 1977 reshuffles the cards in a traditionally left-leaning city where the right is gaining ground.
The Aurillac congress center was packed on January 28 with 450 people attending the launch of Valérie Rueda's campaign for mayor as the socialist candidate. Deputy to outgoing mayor Pierre Mathonier for associative life, she showed her emotion: “Thank you so much for being so numerous. I need to catch my breath. I'm savoring it!” In her speech, she recalled her attachment to “humanist values” and to “a politics that unites rather than divides,” before introducing her running mates.
Pierre Mathonier, mayor since 2013, appears in fourth position on Rueda's list, signaling his support without running again. This is the first time since 1977 that an Aurillac mayor has not sought re-election, and all four declared candidates are newcomers. This reshaping occurs in a city historically rooted on the left, but where the right is making advances.
In 2014, Mathonier won the election in the first round. Six years later, in 2020, his list uniting MoDem and left-wing parties (excluding La France insoumise) narrowly won the first round, leading by just 408 votes over Jean-Antoine Moins's (Les Républicains) list. In the second round, the left secured 59.2% of the votes.
Among Rueda's opponents, Patrick Casagrande, close to LR parliamentary leader Laurent Wauquiez, is running without a label, highlighting the evolving dynamics.
