
Le 19:45 - Racines-Burgogne by-election: Who Will Be the Next Baschet?

RACINES --- Among the Council elections, a by-election for Elisabeth Baschet's former seat has quickly shifted the narrative from who will work better for local government to who will become the next star of politics. Though the money spent in this election is capped by the Gaulois Electoral Commission, the media attention and visits to this crucial city has turned heads.
The Gallons, Socialists, and Libéraux En Marche have all made clockwork visits to the key city of 500,000 residents. Racines was once a booming mining town; former Prime Minister Elisabeth Baschet would constant refer to her heritage as the daughter of a coal miner. Indeed, during the height of the industrial 19th century, Racines was an epicenter of activity. Once industry began to leave and efforts for clean energy began to move to the forefront, the economic activity of Racine and the surrounding area began to dwindle.
"Elisabeth Baschet was my last hope for this town when she first came up in the 2000s," said a voter at a local cafe. The usually bustling streets were quiet as patrons got ready for the Palm Sunday worship. "Now, I am not so sure."
The Parti Socialiste is looking vulnerable here in Racines. Why? Simply put, Baschet promised to bring more economic attention to this region and had not delivered enough. A high speed TVG rail link has done something to the area, but if anything it has sucked people from working in Racines to other, more economically active locations.
"Everyone works in Aurelis now. They commute from Racines and sometimes even rent hotels to stay for the week and work there. I personally make the long drive as well. That rail link that was supposed to bring people to us has done the opposite," says Martina Devereux, a 42 year old mother of three. "My husband can telecommute, so he stays home with the children while I spend all my time in the car and at work."
That is the reality for the people of Racines, and because Baschet promised to revitalise the area as Prime Minister, the Socialists are really paying for it. The vote on the left is splitting. As the old union workers find a brother in Ayrault, the younger, more social democratic leaning voters in the Racines metropolitan area are switching allegiance. And they're switching towards Emmanuel Macron and the LEM.
"Macron is uplifting; he has a positive solution for our area," said a university student attending a LEM rally. "He's really been speaking to me about my future, our future in Europe, and how the two major parties have been abusing the votes of the people for too long. It's time for a change."
LEM has taken a sizeable chunk out of the 20% lead Baschet had in this blue-ribbon Socialist seat. Now the Government has fallen behind as the remainder of the older population finds solace in a...different solution.
"Europe is broken!" said Marine Le Pen, leader of the Rassemblement National. "The EU institutions mean nothing. Look at these communist revolutions. And now we have a Prime Minister who would rather bow to the communist scum in Icholasen than stand up for the people here in this nation. Socialism leads to communism, and it will be Chairman Ayrault in the driver's seat telling us all where to buy our groceries and force a leftist global agenda down our throats."
That's not the only game in town on populism.
"Racines can stand up and tell the government that it will not be taken for granted anymore. Tell the government that your vote is for freedom from government tyranny. Tell Jean-Marc Ayrault and the Socialists...go away. Go away, Ayrault. Get out of our lives, Ayrault. It is very clear that the communist tail is wagging the Socialist dog. This country cannot afford statism that will force the EPA agenda down our throats. If you want to restore this country to the way it was before this European Union-Marxist/Leninist-Socialist mess, there's only one party that you can vote for!" Michel Kligenberg said in a fiery campaign speech in the Racines town square.
Poll show the Christian Democrats have now crept ahead of the Government, 34-31, with Marcon's party at 22 and the RN at 10%