TRIBUNE. In Toulouse, we do not gather by giving up who we are: after the municipal elections, Nadia Pelle

Nadia Pellefigue, vice-president of the Occitanie region and candidate in the 2020 municipal elections, had considered running again in 2026. In a column, she breaks her silence and explains the reasons that led her to renounce these elections.

There are mornings when political reality ends up revealing what party politics had tried to hide. The results of the second round in Toulouse clearly showed that a significant portion of the left-wing electorate did not recognize themselves in this construction. On Monday, March 13, the left-wing list presented in the municipal elections in Toulouse – supported by those who had previously vehemently refused any alliance with La France insoumise – eventually merged with them. Despite some comments painting it as an unexpected event, this agreement was not a surprise.

During the 2020 municipal elections, François Briançon and François Piquemal were already on the same list in the second round, under the Archipel citoyen banner. Many candidates on their teams had previously been on other lists. With around twenty candidates from the 2020 municipal lists being former colleagues on the same list, the surprise expressed at the announcement of the merger between the PS and LFI lists was more a form of political amnesia than a discovery.

Toulouse is the city of my life. I grew up there, studied there, built my professional, political, and family life there. When I talk about this city, it’s not just about a rural area, but a place I know well. It’s important to state this because in the following text, one might look for something other than what it is: a simple, consistent commitment that has never wavered.

In 2020, I stepped back without bargaining for a seat or imposing conditions, to allow the left wing to have a clear path. Toulouse was the only major city in France to witness a direct right-left showdown in the elections, which some still held against me. However, this was my choice.

In 2022, I left the Socialist Party when they made agreements with La France insoumise, as I do not share their vision on various issues. In 2024, I further distanced myself from the PS due to conflicting views. My belief in a united left that supports industry and the EU led me to this decision.

In 2025, I announced my candidacy but withdrew due to pressure to support another candidate endorsed by the party. This disappointed me and highlighted the different priorities between party politics and the citizens’ interests.

Mistakes are not a problem, but failing to learn from them is. Toulouse deserves a better left wing that can unite beyond party lines. My commitment to this city is rooted in defending its values without compromise. This is not just a CV line; it reflects my beliefs.

No matter what happens, I will continue to stand for the simple idea that political coherence is not weakness but a necessity in politics.