Dn the next few weeks, Élisabeth Borne, Renaissance candidate (ex-LREM) in the legislative elections will have to go through the 6and district of Calvados: a vast territory which extends from the immediate outskirts of Caen to the limits of the neighboring departments of Manche and Orne. A concentrate of the French archipelago of 125,000 inhabitants with rural dwellers working in Caen, dairy producers and horse breeders. Known for its andouille, Vire, seat of Guy Degrenne (tableware), has almost as many jobs (10,000) as inhabitants. With a strong agro-food and logistics sector.
It is not surprising that the first visit of the Minister of Labor is for a company. With, by her side, Freddy Sertin, director of the Notre-Dame clinic, her future substitute inserter at Horizons, the candidate travels for an hour through the alleys of Normandy. One of the pillars of local employment with 650 employees and 136 million euros in turnover. Launched in 1991 with six employees, this company manufactures food for cats and dogs sold mainly under private label, of which 68% is exported.
During her first contacts with her future voters, the candidate indicated that she had been told a lot about purchasing power. Not to mention the concerns of access to care or the digital divide.
In fact, this is not quite Elisabeth Borne’s first visit: she has already come as part of ministerial visits to Condé-en-Normandie, Noues-de-Sienne or May-sur-Orne, localities of the constituency. So many first milestones.
“A chance for our territory”
“Each time, she received a very warm welcome from business leaders,” notes Alain Tourret, 74, outgoing LREM deputy, who is not standing. “As of June 2021, I proposed to Elisabeth to be a candidate. We talked about it several times. It’s a chance for our territory, ”underlines the outgoing. He will chair the support committee for the candidate who can already count on the mayors of Vire and Condé-en-Normandie.
A newcomer to Vire, Elisabeth Borne brushes aside any accusation of parachuting: “Calvados is the land of origin of my family, my grandparents, my great-grandparents and my mother who lived there. It is a department of the heart. »
Who can the candidate be thinking of by adding: “The ease for a minister is to find a constituency in the Paris region. When I was regional prefect [en Poitou-Charentes, NDLR], I noticed the importance of elected officials who are committed to their territory. »
A small precaution, however: “If I stay in government, my deputy will sit in the Assembly, but I will continue to get involved in the constituency. »
Also Minister for Integration, Elisabeth Borne visited the premises of an association for help and return to work. Next Sunday, she will be associated with the ceremonies of the armistice of May 8, 1945 marking the end of the Second World War: “Those who, on the left, today deny Europe forget that it contributed to building peace . »
Other candidates: Lynda Lahalle (Conquering Normandy-LR), Noé Gauchard (LFI), François Ormain (Freedoms and Territories), probably Jean-Philippe Roy (RN).