He will take his place in government in a week. Arrived in second place in the first round of the legislative elections in the 7th constituency of Paris with 35.81% of the vote, Clément Beaune, the Minister in charge of Europe, will face next Sunday the candidate of Nupes Caroline Mecary (40.43 % of votes) in a duel that promises to be very close.
By presenting himself in this stronghold of the left in the heart of Paris (straddling the 4th, 11th and 12th arrondissements), scooped up by LREM in 2017, Clément Beaune knew that the task was not going to be easy. But the one who presents himself at 40 for the first time before universal suffrage intends to take over the seat of the outgoing Macronist deputy, Pacôme Rupin, who did not wish to stand again.
To achieve this, the former special adviser to Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace will therefore have to beat Caroline Mecary, a 59-year-old lawyer known for her commitment to the LGBT cause, on June 19. Passed by EELV before recently joining LFI, her opponent highlights “youth, purchasing power, public services and ecological bifurcation”.
A decisive transfer of votes
Figure of the left wing of the majority and former socialist activist, Clément Beaune will only be able to win with the postponement of the votes of the right, even of the far right, in a constituency where the united left has gathered 46% votes in the first round of the presidential election. According to an Ifop poll for the JDD and Sud Radio published last week, the enarque is popular with the over 50s and retirees, when his rival seduces young people, the working classes and even senior executives.
This same survey places Caroline Mecary slightly in the lead in the second round, neck and neck with the minister-candidate (51% against 49%). A defeat would have serious consequences for Clément Beaune. Emmanuel Macron warned: all the ministers beaten in the legislative elections will have to leave the government.
In the event of victory, Clément Beaune would remain in the executive and would give up his place at the Palais Bourbon to his deputy Clara Chassaniol, parliamentary collaborator of Pacôme Rupin. As the Minister for Europe said a few days ago: his political future “can be played with 300 votes”.