Joël Amalric, 57-year-old mayor and winemaker of Foissac, is seeking a third term despite budgetary and agricultural challenges. In this Gard commune of 445 residents, he values his dual role, rooted in a family history dating back to 1699. While many rural mayors are stepping down, he highlights the flexibility and commitment of elected officials.
Joël Amalric, 57 years old, serves as both winemaker and mayor of Foissac, a commune of 445 residents in the Uzège region, between Nîmes and Alès. He manages about 100 hectares of vines and scheduled a meeting on a February Saturday, after starting his day at dawn pruning the vines.
Despite budgetary uncertainties and changes in agricultural policy, the mayor is running for a third term. In France, nearly 12 percent of mayors are farmers, according to a 2025 study by the Association des maires de France and the Cevipof, down from 40 percent in the 1970s. Many of his colleagues are stepping down, but Amalric values this dual role, supported by an emotional tie to the village. “In my family, we've been in the commune since 1699,” he explains, noting that his two daughters also live in Foissac.
The restored small town hall employs two secretaries nearly full-time (33 hours) and one part-time employee for 17 hours of cleaning. “The rest, like plumbing and road cleaning, we delegate to service providers; it's more flexible. And it eases our finances,” he says. Elected officials contribute a great deal, “it sometimes feels like volunteering.” For events like the May 8 ceremony, “we roll up our sleeves.”
This profile highlights rural challenges ahead of the 2026 municipal elections.
