2018 Loiret's 4th constituency by-election

A by-election was held in Loiret's 4th constituency on 18 March 2018, with a second round on 25 March as no candidate secured a majority of votes in the first round. The by-election was prompted by the invalidation of the election of Jean-Pierre Door, candidate of The Republicans (LR), in the June 2017 legislative elections by the Constitutional Council on 18 December 2017. In the second round of the 2017 legislative elections on 18 June, the result was the closest in the country, with Door winning by 8 votes before the election was annulled.

2018 Loiret's 4th constituency by-election
18 March 2018 (first round)
25 March 2018 (second round)
Turnout30.36% Decrease18.60% (first round)
28.61% Decrease14.76% (second round)
 
Nominee Jean-Pierre Door Mélusine Harlé Ludovic Marchetti
Party LR LREM FN
1st round
%		 8,330
38.20% Increase14.41%		 4,406
20.20% Decrease8.35%		 3,026
13.88% Decrease6.91%
2nd round
%		 12,632
67.08% Increase17.07%		 6,199
32.92% Decrease17.07%		 Eliminated
 
Nominee Jalila Gaboret Bruno Nottin Luc Bucheton
Party PS PCF DLF
1st round
%		 1,450
6.65% Increase1.17%		 1,300
5.96% Decrease5.64%		 1,140
5.23% Increase2.22%
2nd round
%		 Eliminated Eliminated Eliminated
Deputy before election

Jean-Pierre Door
LR

 Elected deputy

Jean-Pierre Door
LR

Door won the second round of the by-election with 67.08% of the vote against Mélusine Harlé, candidate of La République En Marche!, with 32.92%.

Background

Following the second round of the 2017 legislative election in Loiret's 4th constituency on 18 June, Mélusine Harlé, candidate of La République En Marche! defeated by 8 votes in the closest contest of the year, filed an appeal with the Constitutional Council appealing the election of Jean-Pierre Door of The Republicans (LR).[1]

On 18 December, the constitutional council annulled the election of Door, with the number of ballots in the commune of Préfontaines differing from the number of signatures, reducing the number of votes cast there from 166 to 165. In addition, article L. 49 of the electoral code prohibits candidates from distributing electoral materials starting from midnight the day before the election, and Harlé argued that a Facebook post made by Door depicting a speech in his capacities as mayor of Montargis commemorating the Appeal of 18 June, as well as a post made by deputy mayor Fabrice Bouscal noting that he voted for Door and inviting voters to "choose the experience faced with adventure", were in breach of the article. Given the extremely narrow margin between the two candidates at the fact that the Facebook posts were not private but public and made on the date of the election, the constitutional council ruled to annul the election of Door, triggering a by-election in the constituency.[2]

The first and second rounds of the by-election were scheduled for 18 and 25 March 2018,[3][4] with 119 polling stations in 69 communes open from 8:00 to 18:00 CET.[5]

Candidates were required submit declarations of their candidacies between 19 and 23 February.[6]

Candidates

Incumbent deputy Jean-Pierre Door of The Republicans (LR), a 76-year-old cardiologist,[5] stood in the by-election to attempt to maintain his seat. On 30 January 2018, the Union of Democrats and Independents (UDI) announced its support for Door, citing his support for the political line of Alain Juppé.[7] Deputy and president of the Union of the Right and Centre group in the regional council of Centre-Val de Loire Guillaume Peltier visited the constituency to support Door on 8 March,[8] followed by senator Jean-Noël Cardoux on 9 March,[9] former minister Élisabeth Hubert on 13 March,[10] LR president Laurent Wauquiez, president of The Republicans group in the National Assembly Christian Jacob, and deputy Antoine Savignat on 14 March,[8] accompanied by UDI deputies Philippe Vigier and Maurice Leroy at a meeting attended by over 400 people,[11][12] and Valérie Pécresse and Damien Abad between the two rounds on 20 March.[13]

Mélusine Harlé, a 45-year-old CEO of a management company and candidate of La République En Marche!,[5] launched her campaign on 13 January 2018 alongside party president Christophe Castaner,[14] against the backdrop of motorcyclists protesting the government's reduction of speed limits on local roads from 90 km/h to 80 km/h.[15] On 1 March, minister Jacqueline Gourault attended a public meeting in support of Harlé in Solterre, and Mounir Mahjoubi visited Ferrières-en-Gâtinais on 2 March.[16] Deputies Aurore Bergé, Gilles Le Gendre, and Caroline Janvier also campaigned on behalf of Harlé at a public meeting on 9 March,[17] and Olivier Dussopt subsequently visited the constituency on 16 March.[18]

Ludovic Marchetti, a 31-year-old pastry chef,[5] municipal councillor of Amilly, and departmental secretary of the National Front (FN) in Loiret, was again selected as the party's candidate in the constituency.[19]

The section of the French Communist Party (PCF) based in the constituency argued for a common front on the left unifying the PCF, La France Insoumise, and supporters of Benoît Hamon behind a single antiliberal and ecologist candidate.[20] Franck Demaumont of the PCF also initially intended to run,[21] before reversing his decision and Bruno Nottin was nominated in his place, with Françoise Causse of La France Insoumise selected as his substitute.[22] Nottin, a 43-year-old court clerk,[5] received the support of Europe Ecology – The Greens (EELV),[23] which was initially considered likely to present its own candidate.[24] On 6 March, Pierre Laurent, national secretary of the PCF, visited Amilly to support Nottin.[25]

Jérôme Schmitt, a 46-year-old employed in the nuclear sector,[5] contested Loiret's 6th constituency in 2017 and stood as the candidate of La France Insoumise, which did not present a candidate in the constituency in June against PCF mayor of Châlette-sur-Loing Franck Demaumont in acknowledgment of his sponsorship of Jean-Luc Mélenchon for the presidential election. However, relations between the two movements deteriorated since then, though Schmitt did not rule out the possibility of an alliance with the PCF.[24] Adrien Quatennens and François Ruffin visited the constituency in support of Schmitt on 1 March,[26] followed by door-to-door campaigning by deputies Sabine Rubin and Éric Coquerel on 10 March,[27] and Jean-Luc Mélenchon hosted a public meeting, introduced by Alexis Corbière, that was attended by some 200 people in Montargis on 13 March.[26]

Jalila Gaboret, a 45-year-old secondary school teacher,[5] was again announced as the candidate of the PS on 27 January,[28] and received the support of Olivier Faure, leader of the New Left group in the National Assembly, at a public meeting in Ingré on 19 February.[29]

Luc Bucheton, a 55-year-notary and departmental secretary of Debout la France (DLF),[5][30] was again invested by the party, and received the support of DLF president Nicolas Dupont-Aignan in Cepoy on 14 March,[31] and was also accompanied by FN regional councillor Alexandre Cuignache, who decided to leave the party to join Dupont-Aignan.[32]

Dominique Clergue, a 52-year-old blue-collar worker,[5] was again invested by Lutte Ouvrière (LO).[33] Laurent Chaillou, a 46-year-old supervisor,[5] was invested by the Popular Republican Union (UPR), and UPR founder François Asselineau visited the constituency in support of his party's candidate on 10 March.[34] Nicolas Rousseaux, a 42-year-old executive, was invested under the banner of Force Nationale. Frédéric Chaouat, a 55-year-old English professor, stood as an independent candidate. Joël-Pierre Chevreux, a 62-year-old editor of an online publication, stood as the candidate of the Humans, Animals, Nature Movement (MHAN).[5]

France Bleu Orléans and apostrophe45 broadcast a debate between Door and Harlé on 22 March at 19:00 CET.[35]

2017 election result
First round results by commune
Second round results by commune
Candidate Party First round Second round
Votes % Votes %
Mélusine Harlé LREM 10,215 28.56 14,553 49.99
Jean-Pierre Door LR 8,507 23.78 14,561 50.01
Ludovic Marchetti FN 7,434 20.78
Franck Demaumont PCF 4,148 11.60
Jalila Gaboret PS 1,961 5.48
Luc Bucheton DLF 1,075 3.01
Alphonse Proffit DIV 849 2.37
Massila Salemkour EELV 813 2.27
Dominique Clergue LO 343 0.96
Zoé Baron UPR 234 0.65
Christine Rochoux DVD 191 0.53
Votes 35,770 100.00 29,114 100.00
Valid votes 35,770 97.87 29,114 89.93
Blank votes 551 1.51 2,316 7.15
Null votes 226 0.62 944 2.92
Turnout 36,547 48.96 32,374 43.37
Abstentions 38,100 51.04 42,269 56.63
Registered voters 74,647 74,643
Source: Ministry of the Interior, political parties
* Incumbent deputy

2018 by-election result
First round results by commune
Second round results by commune
Candidate Party First round Second round
Votes % +/– Votes % +/–
Jean-Pierre Door LR 8,330 38.20 +14.41 12,632 67.08 +17.07
Mélusine Harlé LREM 4,406 20.20 –8.35 6,199 32.92 –17.07
Ludovic Marchetti FN 3,026 13.88 –6.91
Jalila Gaboret PS 1,450 6.65 +1.17
Bruno Nottin PCF 1,300 5.96 –5.64
Luc Bucheton DLF 1,140 5.23 +2.22
Jérôme Schmitt LFI 1,081 4.96 +4.96
Joël-Pierre Chevreux ECO 427 1.96 +1.96
Dominique Clergue LO 349 1.60 +0.64
Laurent Chaillou UPR 177 0.81 +0.16
Nicolas Rousseaux EXD 93 0.43 +0.43
Frédéric Chaouat DIV 29 0.13 +0.13
Votes 21,808 100.00 – 18,831 100.00 –
Valid votes 21,808 96.97 –0.90 18,831 88.88 –1.05
Blank votes 442 1.97 +0.46 1,492 7.04 –0.11
Null votes 239 1.06 +0.44 865 4.08 +1.17
Turnout 22,489 30.36 –18.60 21,188 28.61 –14.76
Abstentions 51,574 69.64 +18.60 52,866 71.39 +14.76
Registered voters 74,063 74,054
Source: Préfecture du Loiret

References
  1. Eléanor Douet (29 June 2017). "Législatives : une candidate REM conteste l'élection de son rival LR". RTL. Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  2. "Décision n° 2017-5092 AN du 18 décembre 2017". Conseil constitutionnel. 18 December 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  3. Jean-Baptiste Dos Ramos (3 January 2018). "Les législatives partielles se dérouleront les 18 et 25 mars dans le Montargois". La République du Centre. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  4. "Décret n° 2018-45 du 29 janvier 2018 portant convocation des électeurs pour l'élection d'un député à l'Assemblée nationale (4e circonscription du Loiret)". Légifrance. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  5. "Douze candidats à départager ce dimanche, dans la quatrième circonscription du Loiret". La République du Centre. 15 March 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  6. "Candidatures". Préfecture du Loiret. 19 January 2018. Archived from the original on 28 January 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  7. Arthur Berdah (30 January 2018). "Législatives partielles : l'UDI va soutenir des candidats LREM face à LR". Le Figaro. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  8. Philippe Abline (13 March 2018). "Laurent Wauquiez vient lui aussi soutenir Jean-Pierre Door, mercredi, à Montargis". La République du Centre. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  9. "Les événements de campagne". La République du Centre. 7 March 2018.
  10. "Législative : des personnalités viendront soutenir Jean-Pierre Door (LR)". La République du Centre. 22 February 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  11. "Wauquiez en campagne pour les retraités, "premiers sacrifiés" de Macron". Libération. Agence France-Presse. 14 March 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  12. Philippe Abline (14 March 2018). "Jean-Pierre Door plébiscité par les ténors de la droite et du centre". La République du Centre. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  13. "À Montargis Valérie Pécresse cite une chanson de France Gall pour définir Jean-Pierre Door". La République du Centre. 20 March 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  14. Cyrille Ardaud (14 January 2018). "Mélusine Harlé repart en campagne dans la 4e circonscription du Loiret". France Bleu Orléans. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  15. Elsa Cadier (13 January 2018). "Christophe Castaner, délégué général de La République en Marche (LREM) dans le Loiret". France 3 Centre-Val de Loire. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  16. Florent Buisson (27 February 2018). "Deux membres du gouvernement dans le Loiret, cette semaine, pour soutenir Mélusine Harlé". La République du Centre. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  17. J.J. Talpin (10 March 2018). "Législatives Montargis : partition à quatre voix pour la candidate LREM". Mag'Centre. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  18. Caroline Bozec (16 March 2018). "Un secrétaire d'Etat pour soutenir Mélusine Harlé (LREM) dans la dernière ligne droite". La République du Centre. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  19. Cyrille Ardaud (18 January 2018). "Début de campagne pour Ludovic Marchetti, le candidat FN à la législative partielle de Montargis". France Bleu Orléans. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  20. "Vers un rassemblement à gauche sur la quatrième circonscription ?". La République du Centre. 24 December 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  21. "Montargis: Jalila Gaboret (PS) candidate à la législative partielle du 18 mars". Mag'Centre. 29 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  22. Alexis Marie (6 February 2018). "Bruno Nottin-Françoise Causse, un duo PCF et Insoumise". La République du Centre.
  23. "France Insoumise, PCF, LO : ça bouge à gauche". L'Éclaireur du Gâtinais. 7 February 2018.
  24. Cyrille Ardaud (19 January 2018). "Qui seront les candidats de gauche aux législatives partielles de Montargis ?". France Bleu Orléans. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  25. Philippe Abline (6 March 2018). "Pierre Laurent, secrétaire national du Parti communiste, prend le pouls de l'hôpital d'Amilly-Montargis". La République du Centre. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  26. Alexis Marie (13 March 2018). "Jean-Luc Mélenchon, grippé, a donné de la voix pour soutenir Jérôme Schmitt". La République du Centre. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  27. "La venue de Mélenchon". L'Éclaireur du Gâtinais. 14 March 2018.
  28. "Jalila Gaboret (PS) sera de nouveau candidate dans la 4ème circonscription". La République du Centre. 29 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  29. "Olivier Faure, favori de l'élection à la tête du PS, à Ingré le 19 février". La République du Centre. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  30. Amélie Rigodanzo (14 March 2018). "Législative partielle dans le Loiret: Mélenchon mardi, Dupont-Aignan, Wauquiez et Jacob mercredi". France 3 Centre-Val de Loire. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  31. "Nicolas Dupont-Aignan à Cepoy le 14 mars". La République du Centre. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  32. Alexis Marie (14 March 2018). "Nicolas Dupont-Aignan à Montargis pour soutenir le candidat Luc Bucheton". La République du Centre. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  33. Jean-Baptiste Dos Ramos (8 February 2018). "Loiret : un duo féminin pour conduire Lutte ouvrière à la législative partielle". La République du Centre. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  34. "François Asselineau est venu soutenir son candidat". La République du Centre. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  35. François Guéroult (22 March 2018). "Législative partielle : Jean-Pierre Door et Mélusine Harlé débattent ce soir sur France Bleu Orléans". France Bleu Orléans. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
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