Laure Lavalette, the (almost) candidate campaigning in Toulon

"I'm voting for her, it's already decided," assures Monique, a sixty-year-old from Toulon. Like her, many people this Thursday evening confirmed that they wanted to cast a ballot for Laure Lavalette in the upcoming municipal elections. But the person concerned is adamant: she is not yet an official candidate for 2026. Yet, there is little room for doubt. On both substance and form.

Just a week ago, the National Rally MP for the 2nd constituency of Var launched an association. Its name: A Future for Toulon. A movement that aims to be a "think tank." To feed what? A program? "It's important for me to ask the opinion of the people of Toulon on major issues. They have plenty of ideas, you just have to know how to listen to them," dismisses the woman whom Jordan Bardella, like Marine Le Pen, would like to see as mayor of the capital of Var. "Decisions have always been made in this ivory tower that is the town hall. We must give power back to the people. We have suffered too many things that we did not choose," she adds at the end of the first meeting organized by her association.

A meeting atmosphere

A first meeting that had all the makings of a rally. The Méditerranée room was packed to the rafters this Thursday evening. Two hundred people had turned out. Activists, supporters, and curious onlookers, too. And in the front row, politicians too. The two city councilors Amaury Navarranne and Marcelle Sabarly showed their support, as did Julien Argento (Laure Lavalette's substitute in the last legislative elections) and former MP Philippe Vitel. On stage, alongside the spokesperson for the RN group in the Assembly: Sébastien Soulé. A defeated candidate in the last legislative elections in Toulon's first constituency, the police officer was the perfect choice to lead this meeting on security.

"We want a safer, united, and proud city," read the dozens of posters plastered around the room. A carefully crafted message that, again, owes nothing to chance. The colors, yellow and blue, are those of the coat of arms of the city of Toulon... No blue, white, and red usually used by the National Rally. The party's logo isn't even present.

A promising subject for the RN

While topics such as mobility, transportation, housing, and social policy will be addressed in upcoming meetings, security was the focus of the discussions this Thursday evening. This issue is dear to the National Rally, which has made it its priority.

Participants flocked to share their experiences. Nearly every neighborhood in Toulon was discussed in terms of incivility, insecurity, and disrespect. The proliferation of certain businesses (such as barbershops and night grocery stores) and the "loss of identity" in certain parts of the city were singled out. "There is no inevitability," insists Laure Lavalette. " What you're telling me, I see it, I live it. What you're telling me is the result of poor political choices. We, the people of Toulon, are the collateral damage."

Palpable enthusiasm

The audience seemed completely behind her cause. Loud applause, nodding heads, the MP's speeches generated a certain enthusiasm.

As a seasoned politician, the near-candidate knows how to leverage her popularity. She strives to be approachable in her speeches and beyond. At the end of the session, many people crowded around the side of the stage to drop her a quick note, shake her hand, or take a selfie. It almost felt like we were leaving a concert...

And it's clearly working. While the association's membership numbers haven't been revealed, Laure Lavalette boasts: "On the first day, we completely blew up the server. And since then, we've received more than 1,000 contributions from Toulon residents." This will certainly pave the way for her candidacy to be made official in a few weeks.