Why Jérôme Cahuzac came to visit his friends in Lot-et-Garonne

Tuesday May 10, 2022, in the heart of the Lot valley. About fifty guests are massed in the garden of a property located in the town of Pujols, on the heights of Villeneuve-sur-Lot. All met for a gathering that looked like a « garden party ». May 10, a symbolic date in the history of the Socialist Party, marking the anniversary of the coming to power of François Mitterrand. However, it is not the former socialist president who is celebrated that evening but another figure in political life, decried and discreet for almost 10 years. Under the sun of Lot-et-Garonne, Jérôme Cahuzac makes his appearance and finds his loyal friends in the constituency where he was elected deputy, before becoming budget minister in the government of Jean-Marc Ayrault.

Since his televised intervention last February at David Pujadas, on LCI, in which he had admitted having committed « a republican sacrilege », the former elected official had remained silent. Truth be told, it was his first cathodic appearance since his 2018 conviction for tax evasion. A media shortage, but not only. On his electoral lands too, Jérôme Cahuzac has played the card of discretion since his resignation from the government and his political mandates. The last meeting between the politician and his Villeneuvois supporters dates back to 2016, when he gathered 300 people in Casseneuil. Again, a discreet meeting.

Selfies and speeches in front of guests

This May 10, 2022, the visit was above all a surprise for many participants, invited to the home of a former elected Pujolaise. « I was warned at noon » confides one of the guests. A message: « If you are free this evening, come and have an aperitif at home, I have invited a friend ». Without giving him the name of the visitor. For others, the arrival of the former mayor of Villeneuve « in the country » had been stalled for many weeks. Jérôme Cahuzac arrived at the end of the afternoon, relaxed, without a tie, wearing a light shirt and easily taking selfies.

He spoke in front of staunch friends and supporters in the garden of the owner of the premises. « Formers of the Villeneuve PS, former running mates of the town hall of Villeneuve » details another guest. A witness to this meeting confirms the presence of Jacques Latour, former mayor of Allez-et-Cazeneuve, Alain Soubiran, his deputy for finance at the town hall of Villeneuve and loyal supporter of always. The former mayor of Pujols André Garrigues did not miss this meeting, as did the former councilor of Agen, Alain Veyret and Jean-Claude Gouget, deputy Cahuzac deputy and his successor at the Palais Bourbon. Active elected officials, like the mayor of Nérac Nicolas Lacombe, also responded.

The former deputy-mayor of Villeneuve gave himself up and freely commented on the political life of the country and did not hesitate to say all the bad things he thought of the « unnatural » alliance of Nupes (New union popular, ecological and social) for the next legislative elections. Concerning the delicate situation of the Socialist Party, Jérôme Cahuzac simply declared, with a certain irony, that « to be reborn you must first die. I believe that this step has been taken by the PS ». With humor, the retired doctor said he appreciated wearing a mask during the health crisis: « At least with the mask, I was not recognized and no one spat in my face as has often been the case in recent years. years ».

70 years old on the day of the second round of the legislative elections

The former elected official insisted on explaining what had happened 9 years ago and he returned, very briefly, to this ceremony of wishes for the year 2013, at the multipurpose hall of Casseneuil, a few days after the affair broke out. For him, one of the most painful moments of his life: « That evening, I was another man. As an elected official, I had committed no fault, but a serious offense as a surgeon and socialist close to Michel Rocard ». A few weeks later, he will resign.

During this meeting organized a few hectometres from his former house in Pujols, which he occupied during his period as local elected representative, Jérôme Cahuzac was able to see the loyalty of the Lot-et-Garonne friends, despite the weather and the controversies. On the political future side, no allusion to a possible return has been sketched, especially since he is still under a sentence of 5 years of ineligibility. But life is thus made of chance, the former deputy mayor mayor of Villeneuve will celebrate his 70th birthday on the day of the second round of the legislative elections.