"Me or someone else, there will be a majority candidate" in Hyères, affirms Jean-Pierre Giran

Before conceding to discussing the political politics that is shaking up the microcosm, Jean-Pierre Giran wants to list all the projects currently underway and being carried out simultaneously.

From Espace 3.000 to the Golf Hotel high school, via the ZAC Saint-Martin, the mayor runs through the files on his desk " because you don't stop everything nine months before an election " and it takes up " 99% of (his) time ."

We still wanted to focus on what would not occupy more than 1% of his attention: the major maneuvers in the run-up to the election.

Candidate: "I'm still hesitating"

Will he run for a third term? The question is simple, the answer less so.

"Quite honestly, I hesitated and I still hesitate. Even though I may be getting closer to a solution," assures Jean-Pierre Giran .

However, there is no confidence in the nature of this "solution" .

" In due course, we will define who the majority candidate will be. That time has not yet come. But what is certain is that, whether I or someone else, there will be a majority candidate. "

There are no details on the agenda either, but a brief historical reminder, perhaps as a clue: " In 2020, I only announced my candidacy in January ," smiles the mayor.

What will tip the scales?

" If I were to be a candidate, it would be more out of duty than to add a line to my curriculum vitae, " he assures, hammering home that his " ambition is for the city of Hyères to maintain its course of high standards and excellence." A line he assures he shares with those close to him on the municipal council.

So who will embody this ambition? Hesitating between "I" and "we" to answer this sticky question, Jean-Pierre Giran is not closing any doors: " If someone seems collectively capable of doing it, I'll be happy to do it. If that's not the case, then I'll do it gladly ."

He promises to have already offered the opportunity to some... " and the next morning, they said no ."

At the end of 2024, Jean-Pierre Giran had offended some sensibilities by declaring that he had not found " the philosopher's stone " in his team to pass the baton to him. Today, with more diplomacy, he sighs that not having found a successor is " a regret ."

A major excitement for others

After Véronique Bernardini, former second deputy, it is François Cornileau, deputy for urban planning, who left the Giran stable to present himself at the top of the list (our edition of July 5).

Candidatures that the mayor, a veteran politician, says he "respects." " The fact that people don't know whether I'm running or not is arousing interest," he smiles mockingly. "It's also leading to major excitement among those who don't know whether they'll be included on the majority list. They're looking for a solution to continue to exist within the council. "

"You can't be inside and outside."

Following the twelve blank votes in 2024 which highlighted a climate of distrust within the team at the time when Véronique Bernardini left the ranks, the majority has seen five of its members slide towards the opposition since the beginning of the year.

" Others will take the same path. If they don't, I will help them. You can't be in and out ." the mayor grumbles, identifying some weak points.

" I regret, however, that people who committed themselves to the voters for a six-year term have decided to shorten it and prioritize their personal ambition over the general interest ."

He notes in passing that no departure was motivated by a " clash or a division on an issue " but solely by ambitions. Finally, he assures, by redoing his accounts once again, that he is not afraid of seeing his team lose the majority on the municipal council.

How to differentiate between candidates from the majority?

Since the candidates declared so far were on Jean-Pierre Giran's lists in 2014 and 2020 and served for most of his term, can they claim responsibility for the record? " Certainly not !" thunders the mayor. "I can't be the victim of criticism of a solitary power and then share the cake! If they leave the majority, it's because the record doesn't suit them... or they're doing it solely out of personal ambition. Their actions weren't decisive in this record anyway."

"Avoid the National Front adventure"

" There are two things I want to avoid in Hyères: the National Front adventure (now the National Rally, Editor's note) and the adventure itself. That is to say, seeing Hyères in hands that would take us backwards ," summarizes Jean-Pierre Giran.

Incidentally, he slips in that if, as is rumored, François Cornileau receives the support of the National Rally, his former deputy will move from being a " competitor to an adversary ."

A concern about the far right that he also expresses at the metropolitan level, fearing that several large municipalities will swing into power. "I really hope that the metropolitan majority remains Republican ."

A " double fight " about which the president of TPM has no doubts. "If I don't lead the fight in Hyères, I'll lead the other one. "