“I am stepping back from my political and public activities”: Arnaud Bord, elected official in Alès, turns a page in his life

Arnaud Bord announces that he is taking “a break”, without ruling out a return… MIDI LIBRE – ALEXIS BETHUNE

Contacted late in the morning of Saturday, January 11, the elected official from Alès explains that this decision is “carefully considered” and that he will not resign from his current mandates.

The Gard socialist Arnaud Bord, an opposition elected official in Alès on the municipal council under the banner of the “Alès Spring”, caused a sensation by delivering, on the morning of Saturday 11 January, after having clearly warned his relatives by text message the previous evening, a press release indicating that he was going green. After presenting his wishes for this new year in writing, he declares again: “I would like to inform you that I am withdrawing from my political and public activities.”

He then indicates that “political commitment is an intense commitment when one does it with passion, determination and conviction as I was able to do” and that “after twenty years of unionism, fourteen years in the industrial tribunal, ten years of political activism, (he feels) the deep need to give meaning to my daily actions in my professional and personal life”.

“The spectacle is distressing both nationally and locally”

The Alésien, who currently works at the town hall of Vauvert, is frank:“The latest political deadlines and the news of the last few weeks have marked a real turning point for me. The spectacle is distressing both nationally and locally and so far removed from the reasons that built my commitment. Many are fighting for careers for men and women, and no longer for ideas. This is not my conception. Never, after all these years of combat and commitment, have I felt so much hatred, violence, rejection for political opinions. Never have I felt so many divisions in our society which on the contrary in difficult times should be a nation.”

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“I remain profoundly socialist, humanist, secular, pacifist and feminist”

However, Arnaud Bord admits to having “faith in the reaction of our beautiful people French, but it is time for (him) to take a breath, (himself) to get out of the frenetic spiral of a policy that has lost all its compasses and its bearings”. He adds: “I don't know what tomorrow will bring, but I remain profoundly socialist, humanist, secular, pacifist and feminist.”

He who repeats that he is going to “dedicate himself fully to (his) personal and professional life, which has long suffered from (his) political commitment” concludes: “I will therefore not be a candidate in the next municipal elections in Alès, nor even in the next elections of my party.” Even if he says that he “remains a socialist activist, attentive and wise but with a necessary step back.”

He will not resign from his mandates

Contacted at the end of the morning, Arnaud Bord explains that this decision is “carefully considered”, that “the Christmas truce (him) allowed (himself) to find peace”. This withdrawal that he announces, the one who is today elected representative of Alès and community councilor of Alès Agglomeration specifies that it is not definitive: “I am not ending a political career, as some have previously said”. Similarly, he specifies that he will not resign from his mandates. He will remain in office for the remaining year and a half, but he “will not (be) be active and (will not enter) into the municipal battle”.

For the record, Arnaud Bord was an unsuccessful candidate in the last two legislative elections in the 4th constituency of Gard, beaten each time by Pierre Meurin, the representative of the National Rally.