Jean Lassalle will not stand for legislative elections. After twenty years as a deputy for the 4th constituency of Pyrénées-Atlantiques, the deputy shepherd renounces a new mandate.
At the beginning of April 2022, Jean Lassalle had however indicated that he would seek a new mandate.
The Béarnais deputy who was participating in his second presidential election announced Monday at a press conference in Oloron-Sainte-Marie (Pyrénées-Atlantiques) his decision not to stand again.
He justified the latter by the “national situation” again castigating the climate of the presidential election, believing that it had been “played in advance”.
Jean Lassalle also explained that he was soon to undergo open-heart surgery. Since his hunger strike in 2006, his health problems have worsened. However, he did not specify whether this medical imperative had a link with his decision.
Another justification for this renunciation, the criminal investigation opened against him by the Pau prosecution following the staging of his abstention during the second round of the presidential election. “I will fight body and soul to defend my honor,” said the deputy, who will be 67 on Tuesday, May 3.
Another Lassalle in the National Assembly?
Jean Lassalle did not hide his “very strong emotion” to leave the hemicycle of the National Assembly after twenty years in office. However, he might not be the last Lassalle to sit there. Indeed, the unfortunate presidential candidate has indicated that he is in discussion with his brother Julien Lassalle so that the latter takes over from him and presents himself.
With his outspokenness, his Béarn accent and his colorful actions, Jean Lassalle left his mark on the Palais Bourbon. He stood out there in 2003, when he sang Se Canta, a Béarnaise song considered the anthem of the Gascons, in the middle of a session. Three years later he began his hunger strike to save the Toyal factory in the Aspe valley, before taking a tour of France on foot in 2013 to meet the French.
Elected on June 16, 2002, with 57.05% of the votes in the second round, Jean Lassalle will leave office on June 19, 2022 when his successor is elected.