More cantonal by-election fun!

There was also a by-election in Avallon, Yonne to replace a PS councillor who passed away. Avallon is located in the southeast of the department and is almost entirely classified as urban/commuter belt, centred around Avallon (pop 06: 7,874), the fourth city in the department.

First Round, January 11

I : 8.745 ; V : 3.408 ; Exp : 3.333 ; Abs: 61,03 %

Isabelle Huberdeau (DVG) : 1.644 (49,32%)
Pascal Germain (DVD) : 1.435 (43,05%)
Claude Moreau (SE) : 174 (5,22%)
Marie-Solange Mansard (FN) : 80 (2,40%)

The PS candidate won 42% in 2004, and 52% in the runoff. The UMP incumbent (who had won narrowly in 1998) won 38% and 48% in the runoff. The FN won 13% back then.

Runoff, January 18

I : 8.745 ; V :: 4.027 ; Exp :: 3.934 ; Abst : 53,95%

Mme Isabelle Huberdeau (DVG) : 2.107 (53.56%)
M Pascal Germain (DVD) : 1.827 (46.44%)

In Douarnenez, the by-election which I’ve been following rather closely, right-wing voters turned out way more in the runoff, and Le Floch defied expectations and won (by a rather impressive margin, considering the odds were all against him).

Runoff, January 18

I : 19.101 ; V : 6.662 ; Rxp : 6.435 ; Abs: 65,12%

M Hugues Tupin (PCF) : 2.993 (46.51%)
M Erwan Le Floch (UMP) 3.442 (53.49%)

Tupin’s result is close to that of all the non-nationalist left-wing forces in the first round, but abstention changed in the UMP’s favour.

In the Ain, there were two by-election first rounds today.

Miribel (Ain)

I : 13.817 ; V : 2.870 ; Exp : 2.846 ; Abs : 79,23%

M Joël Aubernon (DVD) : 1.026 (36.05%)
M Pierre Goubet (DVG) : 869 (30.53%)
Mme Josiane Bouvier (PS) : 513 (18.03%)
M Georges Baulmont (DVG) : 237 (8.33%)
M Jacques Darves (PCF) : 76 (2.67%)
M Patrick Bouchard (FN) : 125 (4.39%)

Miribel is a suburb of Lyon. According to Insee stats, less than 30% of the population work in the canton. As it often is with urban cantons, abstention was sky-high.

The incumbent is a leftie, elected with over 51% by the first round in 2004. The FN won almost 17% in 2004. Combined leftie forces here are 59.6%, and unless the four lefties hate each other to death, Goubet should win relatively easily (however… remember Pouilly-en-Auxois last year…)

Saint-Trivier-de-Courtes (Ain)

I : 4.153 ; V : 1.727 ; Exp :: 1.673 ; Abs : 58,42%

M Armel Morel (DVD) : 1.106 (66.11%)
M Gilles Peisson (PS) : 449 (26.84%)
M Gilbert Chossat (PCF) : 118 (7.05%)

Primarily rural canton of northern Ain, though the south of the canton is now in Bourg-en-Bresse’ commuter belt. Around +10% for the PS since 2004, and minor gains for the PCF too.

Upcoming cantonal by-elections include Valenton (Val-de-Marne) and Villecresnes (Val-de-Marne) in one week. The first one is held by a retiring PCF mayor and councillor, who won 100% in a 2004 runoff. Villecresnes is held by a UMP general councillor who won 57% in March last year whose election was voided because envelopes were sent to voters and these did not contain the profession de foi (program) of a DVD candidate. There will also be a by-election in Privas (Ardeche), since the PS incumbent was forced to step down following his election to the Senate. He had won over 60% in the 2004 runoff. I don’t know the date of that by-election. Privas is the fifth largest city in the department.