In Rognac, Bouches-du-Rhône, the Rassemblement National's takeover in late November 2024 faces criticism after sixteen months. Five deputies resigned on February 4, denouncing a lack of consultation and democratic drifts. Complaints of harassment and dismissals question the party's promised exemplary 'method'.
The Rassemblement National (RN) took control of Rognac town hall, a 12,500-resident commune in Bouches-du-Rhône, in late November 2024, succeeding Sylvie Miceli-Houdais (Union des démocrates et indépendants) and Stéphane Le Rudulier (Les Républicains). Mayor RN Christophe Gonzalez promised to end the predecessors' mismanagement, drawing on a regional audit chamber report for 2020-2024. The report highlighted a 'deficit of supervision and expertise', significant staff turnover, and a 'deterioration of the social climate'.
RN leaders and their ally, Union des droites pour la République—including deputy Franck Allisio—saw Rognac as a model of transparency, especially in human resources, replicable in other municipalities. Gonzalez stated at the time: « We are running the “Kärcher” ».
Sixteen months later, this goal appears undermined. On February 4, five deputies, including first deputy Benoît Bourrillon, relinquished their delegations. They cite « authoritarian methods, a lack of consultation, and a concerning drift in democratic debate within the municipal council ». Multiple reports mention harassment, sidelining, and dismissals. Gonzalez, seeking re-election, confronts these accusations that tarnish the RN's regional image.