In Val-d’Oise, the candidacy of Nathalie Elimas, accused of harassment, embarrasses the majority


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The former Secretary of State, who resigned from the government in early March after accusations of moral harassment, is a candidate for his succession in the sixth constituency of Val d’Oise next June. Elected officials and local activists are indignant and challenge the governing bodies of the majority.

An outgoing and questions. In the Val-d’Oise, the legislative battle has barely started, but the bickering has already begun. The candidacy of the former Secretary of State for Priority Education Nathalie Elimas is causing quite a stir there. Elected in 2017, she had left her seat in the Assembly to her deputy in the sixth constituency of the department after being appointed to the government in July 2020. Five years later, she hopes to re-enlist.

But in the meantime, her time at the ministry has weakened her. An administrative investigation carried out in January by the Minister of National Education, Jean-Michel Blanquer, led the Paris public prosecutor’s office to open an investigation for “moral harassment”, in March. Near Releasein January, several of his former collaborators recounted his “excess of mood”, his “personal attacks” and, more generally, the “unhealthy climate” within his office. Heavy accusations and a judicial inquiry which, as the legislative elections approach, arouse apprehension and disapproval among activists and local elected officials in Val-d’Oise.

“No smoke without fire”

In a letter sent on April 28 to the majority parties (LREM and the Modem), seven elected officials and around twenty activists from the department reject the candidacy of the former deputy. “We are asking Mrs. Elimas not to stand in the next legislative elections in order to give every chance to the presidential majority, with a candidate free from all suspicion”, write the signatories. Supposed to remain secret, the missive leaked, causing embarrassment to the majority. “No comment”, thus sweeps away a LREM parliamentarian involved in the legislative elections. Which still ensures: “We will support his candidacy.” “It’s an anonymous leaflet”dismisses Nathalie Elimas.

Still, in the department, teeth grind. “This is not a move against the Modemexplains Danick Delaroche, municipal councilor in Soisy-sous-Montmorency and signatory of the mail. But an approach of elected officials and activists who are not in agreement with the situation of Nathalie Elimas. “We believe in the presumption of innocencehe adds. But there is no smoke without fire…” According to him, the parties of the majority would benefit from supporting a candidate “without suspicion”. Especially since, according to local political observers, the constituency is considered “winnable” by the majority on June 12 and 19.

Held by the right since 1988, the 6th constituency of the department, which includes the towns of Enghien-les-Bains, Saint-Gratien, Sannois and Soisy-sous-Montmorency fell with the Macronist wave of 2017. For the June ballot , the figures on the right did not jostle each other. The Republicans ended up investing Nicolas Flament, the deputy mayor of Sannois. Horizons, the party of Edouard Philippe, would currently have no candidate in the constituency. A situation at first sight favorable for the majority. But the candidacy of Nathalie Elimas, warn the recalcitrant, “would be a guarantee of defeat”.

“Absent from the territory”

More than his lack of “probity”the critics of the former member of the government question his absence “of interest to activists”. “On the ground, people don’t know her”, says Christophe Celestin, municipal councilor in Deuil-la-Barre. “She has been absent from the territory for five years”, abounds for her part, Senator LR Jacqueline Eustache-Brinio. Who comes forward: “I don’t see how LREM can invest it…” For the time being, Nathalie Elimas has received the support of the departmental branches of the Modem and the Radical Party. The first national nominations, the subject of intense negotiations between the caciques of the presidential majority, should fall during the week. “I’m pretty calm,” assures Nathalie Elimas. “I have no news of the investigation. I was not summoned, nor indicted, nor condemned. There’s no reason to be denied the nomination.”she defends herself, denouncing the passage of “stink balls”.

Still, with the approach of the legislative elections, the majority wants to display the unfailing ethics of its candidates. The recent revelations of Mediapart concerning the fabulous expense reports of the deputy Coralie Dubost thus forced the latter to put herself “withdrawn” of political life. She will not seek a second term. Proof of this is the ambient malaise, almost no support has been publicly expressed for the member for Hérault. No one had also gotten wet to defend Nathalie Elimas when she left the government. “We want a serene legislative campaign, where we can talk about the presidential project in a unifying moment”, warns Christophe Celestin, whose name is circulating to wear the colors of the majority in the 6th constituency of Val-d’Oise. An elected official from the department adds, lucid: “Whatever the situation, Nathalie Elimas will go. Invested by the majority or not.

Updated on May 3 at 8:20 p.m. with the declaration of Christophe Celestin: the municipal councilor of Deuil-la-Barre specifies that he is not a candidate for the legislative elections.



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