Limousin (PS +2)

Correze: Chiracquia has fallen. In Tulle, the first secretary of the PS, Francois Hollande was re-elected with over 72% by the first round (compared to only 51% in 2001). The pink tsunami in the department also made two other right-wing cities, Brive-la-Gaillarde and Ussel fall to the left. Ussel is in fact located in the 3rd constituency, the only remaining UMP constituency and Chirac’s stronghold. The tsunami also made the general council of Correze finally switch to the left. The most right-wing department in the Limousin is now left-wing. Total PS +2

Creuse: The re-election of the 3 major city Socialist mayors in the Creuse was a simple formality, the left took 73% in Gueret, 60% in La Souterraine, and “only” 59.75% in Aubusson. All this, of course, by the first round.

Haute-Vienne: In the Limousin’s most left-wing department, where division does not result in a right-wing gain, the left was of course easily re-elected in Limoges and Saint-Junien. Alain Rodet, the PS mayor of Limoges took 56% and the left took 73% in Saint-Junien. All this, of course, by the first round.

Auvergne (=)

Allier: Despite the general council switching to the left, the left didn’t do so good in the communes. In Montlucon, the UMP incumbent was barely re-elected with 50 some percent, with the PS far behind with 24% and the PCF with 21.6%. In Moulins, the UMP incumbent squeaked by, with 46% to 44.4% to the PS. However, there was a dissident DVD list. In Vichy, the UMP incumbent was re-elected with 51.2% in the runoff. The general council, however, gave the left a majority over the right. To compensate for them losing the Seine-Saint-Denis to the PS, the PS gave the Communists the presidency of the Allier department. The PCF had held the department until 2001.

Cantal: In the first constituency, less conservative and more urban than the second, the left, already holding Aurillac, was easily re-elected, with over 63% in the runoff. In the rural second constituency, the right was re-elected with 66% in Saint-Flour, a stronghold for the right.

Haute-Loire: In the stronghold of the catholic right, the right did well, better than in 2001 in fact. Despite the department being a stronghold for the right, Le-Puy-en-Velay is an exception. In 2001, the left gained Le-Puy-en-Velay to the general surprise. However, in 2008, the UMP, led by then-government spokesperson Laurent Wauquiez gained the city by the first round with around 56%. In Yssingeaux, the right-wing incumbent was re-elected with 69%. Total UMP +1

Puy-de-Dome: The bastion of Giscardie, the Puy-de-Dome is still the base of the Auvergne left. Indeed, in Issoire, the left benefited from the presence of two DVD lists to defeat, with a plurality, the incumbent DVD mayor. The total of the right, however, was larger than that of the left. In Riom, the PS took 53.64% by the first round, defeating the UMP and a MoDem at 20%. In Thiers, there was no right-wing list, leaving the battle between the DVG incumbent and the PS candidate. The DVG incumbent took 56%. In Clermont-Ferrand, where the far left is often over to 10% threshold, 2008 was no different. After Brice Hortefeux declined to run in Clermont for the UMP, the competitiveness of the city ended and Serge Godard (PS) was likely to win. He did win, in a four-way runoff. He took 51.7% in the runoff, compared to 22.34% for the UMP and a non-negligible 15.34% for the far-left. The MoDem took 10.6%. In Chamalieres, Giscard’s city now held by his son, his son was re-elected with 57%. Total PS +1