Perpignan, France – A political realignment in the French city of Perpignan is drawing attention, as former mayor Jean-Marc Pujol, who once welcomed exiled Catalan President Carles Puigdemont with honors, has publicly announced his support for far-right incumbent Louis Aliot in the upcoming municipal elections. This move marks a significant shift for Pujol, a conservative from the Les Républicains party, and underscores the evolving political landscape of the Pyrénées-Orientales region.
Aliot secured his re-election in the first round with 50.61% of the vote, absorbing support from the traditional right. Pujol’s public endorsement adds further momentum to Aliot’s campaign. The situation highlights a complex interplay of local politics, regional identity, and national trends. The shift is particularly notable given Pujol’s previous stance, which included a show of solidarity with the Catalan independence movement.
In February 2020, Pujol received Puigdemont with full honors before the exiled leader addressed a crowd of approximately 100,000 people in Perpignan. This gesture was part of a pattern of support for those facing political persecution, a stance Pujol had maintained throughout his eleven years as mayor. At the time, Pujol governed with the Catalan nationalists of Unitat Catalana, demonstrating a willingness to engage with regionalist movements.
However, Pujol now believes Aliot represents “the right,” as he stated on ICI Roussillon. “I will vote for the right-wing and popular coalition list led by Louis Aliot,” he announced, adding that a deal with the far-right could have been reached as early as 2020. This decision has sparked criticism from former allies and raised questions about the future direction of Perpignan’s political identity.
The change in leadership from Pujol to Aliot has brought about noticeable shifts in the city’s symbols and policies. Under Aliot, the city’s coat of arms was altered to include the French flag, the motto “Perpinyà, la catalana” (Perpignan, the Catalan) was replaced with “Perpinyà, la radiant,” and Catalan-language wedding ceremonies were prohibited. The celebration of Sant Jordi (Saint George’s Day), a significant cultural event in Catalonia, has also been marginalized. These changes reflect Aliot’s commitment to promoting a more explicitly French identity within the city.
Pujol’s lineage is rooted in Catalan and Valencian heritage, having been born in Algeria in 1949. He succeeded Joan Pau Alduy, a historical figure who initiated a pact with Catalan nationalism and supported the independence of the Principality. Alduy, a staunch opponent of the far-right, reportedly expressed regret before the elections for having designated Pujol as his successor, according to France Bleu.
The support for Aliot isn’t entirely surprising to some former collaborators. Brice Lafontaine, a former deputy mayor under Pujol until 2017, stated, “It doesn’t surprise me. Many people have gone with Aliot to have more chances of being elected.” Approximately ten of Pujol’s former collaborators, including his wife, Fatima Dahine, have also switched their allegiance to Aliot.
Lafontaine, now an independent councilor for Unitat Catalana, suggests Pujol’s interest in Catalan identity was limited. “He has no interest in Catalan identity, even if he isn’t against it,” Lafontaine said. He recalls difficulties in implementing policies supporting the Catalan language during his time in government. “We agreed on a fresh Bressola school [immersion school], he said yes, but there were always problems and after six years it didn’t happen,” he commented. Another former councilor, Jaume Pol, noted a decline in the defense of Catalan identity during Pujol’s last term, leading to a rupture in their relationship.
Pujol’s decision to welcome Puigdemont in 2020, according to Lafontaine, was largely a strategic move. “It was for image,” he explained. “Since he had people in the government who supported Puigdemont and there was a movement in the population, it was good to have a Catalan star and receive him like that.” The move also served economic purposes, aiming to attract more visitors to Perpignan’s businesses. Pujol had previously extended similar honors to Carme Forcadell, the former President of the Catalan Parliament, and Quim Torra, when he was President of the Generalitat, even wearing the yellow ribbon symbolizing support for Catalan political prisoners.
Now, Pujol has expressed concerns about security and adopted a firm stance on immigration, opposing what he describes as “the extreme left antisemitism.” His shift reflects a broader resurgence of the far-right in France, which he now frames as simply “the right.”
Louis Aliot, the current mayor of Perpignan, has been a prominent figure in French politics for over two decades. He has served as the vice president of the National Rally (formerly the National Front) since 2011 and was a Member of the National Assembly for Pyrénées-Orientales from 2017 to 2020. Born in Toulouse in 1969, Aliot is a lawyer by profession and has been a regional councilor since 1998. His political career has been marked by a consistent association with the far-right, and his victory in Perpignan represents a significant gain for the National Rally.
The political landscape in Perpignan remains fluid, and the implications of Pujol’s endorsement of Aliot are still unfolding. The city, with its unique cultural and historical ties to Catalonia, is now navigating a new era under far-right leadership. The upcoming months will reveal the extent to which Aliot’s policies will reshape Perpignan’s identity and its relationship with the broader Catalan region.
The next step is the official confirmation of the municipal election results and the formation of the new city council. Stay tuned to Archysport for further updates on this developing story and its potential impact on the political dynamics of the region.
