"People told me they were fed up": a MoDem MP from Calvados took the pulse of his constituency by cycling 850 km

The bike is still being repaired and the mobile camper van is peacefully recharging in the yard. The equipment of the deputy (MoDem) of the 4th constituency of Calvados , Christophe Blanchet, has spent a trying summer on the roads of his territory, which covers the northeast of the department. The elected representative traveled the constituency by bike, from July 20 to 31. Between his nights in the camper van, he will have cycled 850 km through 120 municipalities. Enough to draw rich lessons, just before a return to school that has become even more "lively, uncertain, chaotic," he notes from the outset.

He tries to ride this big loop every two years, following the example of MP (Ensemble pour la République) Guillaume Kasbarian, who "did this bike ride at home, in Eure-et-Loir ( in 2021, Editor's note ). I did it my way here. Cycling is popular, it creates proximity. When you go to see people in sneakers, shorts, and a t-shirt, it creates a little complicity, beyond ideology," says Christophe Blanchet.

Every day, after the 8 a.m. start, 45-minute stops are organized in the towns along the route, and a debate open to all takes place in the evening in the town of arrival. "In the towns, we generally discussed one or two local points and one national issue. In the evening, the debates were often national," the MP points out. It's a way to take the pulse and identify some trends.

"We were able to gain perspective on geopolitics and global warming," the MP lists. "Every evening, we also discussed the Duplomb law. Acetamiprid has been reauthorized by Europe . We will therefore legally import products containing it. I just hope that opponents of the Duplomb law won't buy them..."

While the elected official was surprised to hear little talk of security and immigration, the budget often came up in the discussions. "People told me they were fed up, especially with the mess caused by the LFI deputies," the MoDem deputy said, picking up on a wish for stability: "Basically, the residents are telling us to sort it out among ourselves, to get the job done. This National Assembly, even without a clear majority, has still voted on 65 texts in one year... Including those on the end of life and drug trafficking , among others."

Christophe Blanchet is furious about the 2024 dissolution, the consequences of which he is still seeing among voters and local authorities. According to him, there is a marked gap between the political elite and "common sense on the ground."

His cycling tour provided him with an illustration of this on a specific point: municipal roads. "The State sets priorities for the provision of equipment to rural areas. Roads are listed last . However, in 80% of the municipalities in my constituency, the priority is... roads," the elected official grumbles. "These villages also pay money to tourist offices and would like to have funds in return for roads, which also contribute to tourism. But that's not possible either." He laments: "The senior administration doesn't understand this. Just like some urban elected officials..."

This extensive summer escapade led the MoDem MP to draft a number of amendments attached to upcoming bills and proposals. Some directly concern the political class: reductions in the Élysée Palace budget, reductions in certain high-level civil service salaries, and even MPs' allowances, since "people told me they were willing to make an effort as long as everyone did their part."

However, Christophe Blanchet defends the approach of François Bayrou, who is in great danger on September 8th during the confidence vote . "When we talk about two public holidays being removed, there is unanimity against it. But during the debates, when we discussed working a little more per day and per week to generate income, then, people agreed. It's work that pays. We need education," he assures. Before the vote, which poses all the dangers for his camp, the Calvadosien hopes that his colleagues will think "about the aftermath of September 8th" and never stops hammering home his famous "common sense of the land." The one he says he felt so much on his bike. This same bike today is being repaired...