Christophe Béchu returns to campaigning. At the age of 51, after two terms in government, including a two-year stint in the Ministry of Ecological Transition, he formalized his candidacy for the municipal elections in Angers (Maine-et-Loire) on Monday. Voting will take place next March.
Since 2008, Christophe Béchu has been present in all municipal elections in the commune. The first one got away from him. Just six years later he succeeded socialist Jean-Claude Antonini, who had been in office since 1977.
“This story is not over. I want this city to remain a city on a human scale. A city that is a good place to grow up, live, raise a family, work, feel safe, move. All this will be at the heart of this program,” argued Christophe Béchu in his announcement video.
This program will primarily combine pedestrians, safety, employment and mobility. This will be “realized through an updated list composed more than 50% of civil society figures”. As in Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône), this was a united list of right and center wings. Secretary General of Horizons, the party founded by Édouard Philippe, he can count on the support of MoDem and Renaissance. Support from the Republican Party (LR), his former family, has yet to be ratified.
Romain Laveau as the main opponent
On the starting line, Christophe Béchu will face Romain Laveau, his main rival. As the embodiment of the Demain Angers collective, the teacher won primaries from leftists and environmental activists over the summer. He can count on the support of the Green Party, PS, Communists, but also Place publique and Génération.s.
France Insoumise (LFI), on the other hand, went it alone, a disturbing sign of tension between Jean-Luc Mélenchon and PS formations. Topping the list is Arash Saeidi, 50 years old. Now a member of the European Parliament, he once joined the Mawar Party founded by Benoît Hamon before joining the rebel ranks in 2024.
If her chances of victory seem slim, Aurore Lahondès will carry the National Rally (RN) flag. Aged 28, this departmental delegate is no stranger to Angevins. In 2024, she became a candidate in the legislative elections in the department, even leading with 13 votes in the first round, before losing in the second round to Laëtitia Saint-Paul (Renaissance).
