In the village of Gouy-Saint-André in Pas-de-Calais, four candidate lists are vying for votes in the 2026 municipal elections in a community of 659 residents. This high number of candidacies is unusual for a locality of this size, where the average is less than two lists. The population remains engaged, as shown by the 80.9% turnout in 2020.
Gouy-Saint-André, a village in Pas-de-Calais with 659 residents, is gearing up for lively 2026 municipal elections. Local votes have historically sparked strong engagement, occasionally leading to incidents in the past, though the atmosphere is calmer now. In 2020, 80.9% of 518 registered voters participated, and the incumbent list won in the first round.
Four lists – a rare occurrence for a municipality under 1,500 inhabitants, as per a January 2026 study by Sciences Po's Centre for Political Research, which noted an average below two in 2020 – are competing this time. All present as 'label-free,' but with political leanings.
The incumbent 'S’unir pour réussir' list is led by 53-year-old surveyor Grégory Leroy, a left-leaning mayor elected in 2020. The opposition 'Un nouveau souffle pour notre village,' right-leaning, stems from the previously defeated municipal team. 'Agir ensemble pour Gouy' includes dissidents from Leroy's group, who call him 'sectarian' after initially supporting him. Finally, 'Gouy pour tous' is headed by 74-year-old former industrial driller Jean-Louis Lejeune, son of a peasant, Christian, republican, and ex-Gaullist, turned away by the opposition.
One resident jokes: '10% of the population hopes to be elected.'
