In Amiens, among nine lists, three will be led by parliamentary assistants. Damien Toumi, assistant to deputy Jean-Philippe Tanguy, will represent the National Rally (RN). Samy Olivier, who works for Aurélien Le Coq (Nord), leads the France Unbowed (LFI) list. Finally, Frédéric Fauvet, leading a left-wing union list, was long the assistant to socialist senator Rém i Cardon.
This situation is not limited to large cities. For example, Thomas Batigne, assistant to The Republicans deputy Jean-Louis Thiériot (Seine-et-Marne), has been a municipal councilor in Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche (Yvelines), a town of 4,900 inhabitants, for ten years. This time, he has decided to lead a list in his own name. He is not surprised to see many colleagues in a similar situation. “It makes sense. The mayor’s mandate is becoming more and more demanding, requiring technical skills as well as a network. Assistants have access to this,” he said.
Moreover, “being engaged in public life is time-consuming. Our profession is compatible with such a profession. It would be complicated if I worked in the private sector.” While the work of an assistant can be intense, it often allows the flexibility needed to hold office. Parliament has even suspended its proceedings until the second round of municipal elections on March 22.
In Grenoble, the LFI list is led by Allan Brunon, 26, who was an assistant to deputy Gabriel Amard (Rhône) between 2022 and 2024. His candidacy is, for him, the result of a “natural dynamic.” “In La France insoumise, parliamentary assistants are also political activists. Our concrete experience on the ground allows us to take on responsibilities.”
For political scientist Rémi Lefebvre, “one becomes an assistant because they want to become an elected official. It’s a well-established path throughout the political spectrum.” Sébastien Lecornu, Olivier Faure, Gabriel Attal, Marine Tondelier – many leaders have been parliamentary assistants. “This status, seen as unprestigious and temporary, naturally leads many assistants to run for elections,” continues the professor of political science.
