Brigitte Bérèges' proxy campaign energizes by-election in Tarn-et-Garonne
In Tarn-et-Garonne, Brigitte Bérèges' proxy campaign for her successor is energizing the October 5 by-election. Unable to campaign due to health issues, the former MP is rallying supporters to defend her seat. The vote holds symbolic importance for the local right-wing.
The by-election in Tarn-et-Garonne's 1st constituency, triggered by Brigitte Bérèges' resignation due to health reasons, pits several candidates against each other on October 5, 2025. The 65-year-old former LR MP, an iconic figure of the local right, cannot campaign in person because of a serious illness but is directing operations from her home in Montauban.
"I am the heart of this campaign, even if my body can't keep up," Bérèges stated in an interview with Le Monde, emphasizing her commitment to a smooth succession. Her candidate, Marie-Line Reynaud, deputy mayor of Montauban, benefits from her active support through phone calls, videos, and virtual meetings. This proxy strategy has rallied LR militants, who view Bérèges as a local martyr after her 20 years in office.
The political context is tense: the constituency, traditionally right-leaning, was shaken by the 2024 legislative elections where the RN made gains. An Ifop poll published on October 2 shows Reynaud leading with 42% of voting intentions, ahead of the RN candidate at 35% and a left-wing dissident at 15%. Bérèges, elected in 2017 and reelected in 2022 with 55% of the vote, embodies conservative resistance to the far right.
Opponents criticize this ghost campaign. "It's an election without a soul, run remotely," says RN candidate Julien Odoul, who is focusing on immigration and security issues. The left, represented by a local ecologist, denounces the "clientelism" inherited from the Bérèges era. Despite this, support rallies for Reynaud draw crowds, with over 200 attendees at a gathering in Moissac on October 1.
This by-election could influence departmental dynamics ahead of the 2026 municipal elections. Bérèges, hospitalized intermittently since the summer, remains optimistic: "Tarn-et-Garonne is my fight, and it will remain so." Turnout, estimated at 50% in 2022, will be a key challenge for participation.