Les maires du territoire n'ont pas encore tous pris leur décision… – Infographie Midi Libre
Although not everything is settled thirteen months before the election, the first trends are already emerging. Between the mayors who will not run again, those who are hesitating and those who are delaying their decision, the renewal could be significant around the Thau basin. The point commune by commune.
Mèze
Thierry Baëza will make his decision to return to the municipal race after the summer of 2025. However, it is hard to imagine that the current mayor will not run for a new term for one simple reason: his first one was particularly short. Following the new election caused by the cancellation of the 2020 vote, the current majority has only been in office for three years. “I also want to see who wants to return to my team”, announces the chief magistrate of Mézois.
On the other hand, one thing is certain, Gilles Phocas will not be there. “I gave. I did my job. I'm leaving my place to others now”, says the man who was the head of the list for three municipal elections.
For her part, Lysiane Estrada, from the Ensemble pour 2026 list led at the time by Henry Fricou, admits to being “in the middle of a phase of reflection and discussion”for the next election. A vote where the RN, which targeted the city of Bœuf, will necessarily place a candidate. Who could be Jean-Christophe Cazorla, member of Marion Maréchal's party, very active since his arrival on the territory.
Balaruc-le-Vieux
Aurélien Evangélisti.
Elected since 2014 and re-elected as a single candidate in 2020, Norbert Chaplin, 76, will not seek a third term. But the succession debate is already over in Balaruc-le-Vieux because the mayor has knighted one of his own, who needs no introduction: Aurélien Evangélisti. The seven-time winner of the Saint-Louis will therefore return to the tintaine in March 2026, but for political jousts.“I've lived here since I was a year old. In 45 years, I've seen my village become more beautiful. Today, I want to go to the other side of the mirror.” It remains to be seen whether, like Norbert Chaplin in 2020, Aurélien Evangélisti will not have to fight or whether Norbert Chaplin's succession will whet other appetites to run on the opposite boat.
Loupian
Are we heading towards a three-way race in Loupian ? There is no shortage of questions in a village where the mayor Alain Vidal, 74, will not be running again. The only certainty is that the opposition torch will be carried by Francis Pelayo, replacing André Genna, who was defeated in 2020 (34% of the vote).
A working group is already in place, including municipal councillor Stéphanie Ginestet. It remains to be seen who will take up the fight in the camp of the municipal majority. The name of Pascal Mussenger, delegate for urban planning, is circulating. But also that of Bertrand Caussel, former assistant to Christian Turrel. Alain Vidal assures that he “will support the left-wing team that will run”.
Balaruc-les-Bains
Will leave again ? Or not ? Rumor has it that Gérard Canovas, 77, will not run for a 4th term as mayor of Balaruc-les-Bains. “Ah ? You're telling me!, disputes the person concerned. I haven't made a decision. And I haven't even thought about it since it's not currently my concern main.”Elected in 2008 with 51% of the vote against Didier Sauvaire, re-elected against the same rival in 2014 (58%) and then even more widely in 2020 against Régis Ayats (69%), the former inspector of public finances would undoubtedly have every legitimacy to leave. But the rumor is there, really persistent. The absence of an announcement does not prevent discussions from going well within his team, where we discuss “who would like” , “who could”. The name Didier Calas, CEO of the Société publique locale des Thermes (Spleth), comes up insistently…
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Poussan
As with Thierry Baëza in Mèze, Florence Sanchez and her team have set themselves the end of summer as a deadline to make a decision. This question(of a candidacy for a new mandate, Editor's note) questions some people but for the moment we remain focused on work and projects”, explains the first magistrate of Poussan who had imposed herself in 2020 with a 75 vote lead against the Poussan list simply of André Lopez (51.46% against 48.53%). The latter has not yet made a decision on the possibility of starting again. But one thing is certain: “If there is only one list in the running, we will create one so that voters have at least a choice, so that there is democracy.”
Mireval
Re-elected with 56.6% of the vote in 2020, Christophe Durand, 64, has not confirmed that he would seek a 3rd term.“I discuss it with my team. You need health. I have it but it's tiring and I want to keep it”, he confides, still mentioning “projects to complete”. If he leaves, the outgoing mayor will once again cross swords with Robert André, 70, who will head a non-partisan team that he wants to reshuffle and “which should give a large place to young people”.
Vic-la-Gardiole
“I haven't made my decision.” Magali Ferrier leaves doubts hanging over her intentions for 2026. The mayor of Vic, elected since 2014, assures that her choice has not yet been made. “I'm thinking about it”, is content to display the one that had not found any list against it in 2020. At the moment, the possible beginnings of an opposition list have not emerged. And Magali Ferrier could, in a certain way, find herself pushed “by force of circumstances” in order to avoid the fear of the empty chair…
Villeveyrac
“If my health allows it, I will leave again. If it does not allow me to, I will not leave again…” Christophe Morgo will know in a few weeks whether or not he can run for a 3rd term. In this particular context, will another list be put together, as the outgoing mayor is so respected and as the opposition, swept away in 2020, is struggling to exist ? In any case, it should not be the former jouster Bernard Betti, who no longer sits on the council.
Montbazin
Josian Ribes will run for a second term in his commune. The elected official displays the “desire” and “the determination” to “continue the momentum and bring back a project”. “This mandate has gone by very quickly”, he says, even though he thinks he will have to renew his team “at 50%”. “We will have to find motivated people”, he admits, reaffirming that he would not go beyond two mandates.
Marseillan
“My decision is made, I will run again in 2026.” Despite the judicial sword of Damocles hanging over his head (sentenced at first instance to 15 months in prison suspended, a fine and 2 years of ineligibility for favoritism in the context of the awarding of public contracts, he appealed, Editor's note), the outgoing mayor Yves Michel, elected in the first round in 2020, is ready to go back on the campaign trail.
“I am confident that I will provide evidence to the court so that it can review the first instance judgment. But if the appeal were to confirm the first decision after the elections, and if I had to withdraw, my team would continue and I would continue to serve my community.” He confirms that he already has several people from his majority (a good number are sure to re-enlist) ready to replace him if necessary.
Yohann Grosso, the leading opposition group in 2020 (30.57% of the vote) and very active in the council, will probably be in the race. Socialist David Sauvade (10.70% of the vote in 2020) no longer wants to be the head of the list. But he “is closely following the proposals on housing, tourism and ecology” from the association l'Eveil Marseillanais. A collective led by Franck Régnier, engaged in a “citizen project” with the desire now “to commit myself personally for 2026 on an open list of unity”, he confides. The list of candidates could grow in the coming weeks.
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