Pierre-Yves Bournazel, Horizons and Renaissance candidate for Paris mayor, reaffirmed on February 25 that he will not join Emmanuel Grégoire or Rachida Dati in the second round of the municipal elections. Supported by Edouard Philippe and Gabriel Attal, he is campaigning to win, despite a poll crediting him with 12% of votes in the first round. He criticizes the other candidates' projects and denounces a brutalization of political life.
Pierre-Yves Bournazel, candidate for Paris mayor from Horizons and Renaissance parties, stated on France Inter on February 25 that he will not join Emmanuel Grégoire, representing the left outside LFI, or Rachida Dati, LR, MoDem, and UDI candidate, in the second round of the municipal elections with the first round set for March 15. “I will not join either Grégoire or Dati in the second round. I am campaigning to win and I believe Parisians deserve another path than that proposed by Mr. Grégoire and Ms. Dati,” he affirmed. He added: “I’ve thought a lot about it, I listen to Parisians. They ask me to propose a path to avoid enduring this match of the past against the past between Grégoire and Dati. I embody the solution.”
Supported by Edouard Philippe and Gabriel Attal, Bournazel believes “the match is far from over.” He questions: “What will Mr. Grégoire do that he hasn’t done in the last twelve years with Ms. Hidalgo?,” referring to Grégoire’s experience as first deputy to the outgoing socialist mayor. Bournazel highlights “differences in projects and values” with his rivals and denounces a “brutalization of public and political life.” He criticizes the cross-complaints between Grégoire and Dati: “In this campaign, it’s complaint against complaint. Ms. Dati files a complaint against Mr. Grégoire, Mr. Grégoire files a complaint against Ms. Dati.” He adds: “I do not practice intimidation, I do not practice threats. I want to soothe Paris and that starts with exemplary behavior.”
An IFOP poll for L’Opinion and Sud Radio, published on February 22, places Grégoire at 32% of expressed votes in the first round, ahead of Dati at 30%. Bournazel’s list is credited with 12%, down two points from late January. Sophia Chikirou (LFI) and Sarah Knafo (Reconquête) are at 11%, while Thierry Mariani (RN) reaches 4%.
For the second round, the poll considers several scenarios. In a five-way race, Grégoire would narrowly beat Dati (33% vs. 32%). In a three-way Chikirou-Grégoire-Dati, Dati would come first with 49%. With Bournazel in a three-way, Dati would get 43% against 42% for the left and 15% for Horizons-Renaissance. In a Grégoire-Dati duel, Dati would win 53% to 47%.
