Ecologist group chose Eric Piolle as their spokesperson, over the preferred candidate backed by Marine Tondelier.
Fresh Take: Grenoble's Mayor, Eric Piolle, Takes Reigns as Ecologists' Spokesperson
Fresh off a second-round victory on April 26, Eric Piolle, mayor of Grenoble, clenched the title of spokesperson for the Ecologists. In a tight race, Piolle bested Guillaume Hedouin, a candidate supported by the party's national secretary, Marine Tondelier. The announcement was made at the wrap-up of the party's 2025 congress, with Piolle raking in 2,607 votes and Hedouin garnering 2,306.
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Tondelier, a youthful 38 years old, smoothly secured another term as the Ecologists' head on April 19. During the election, she championed Hedouin, deeming it the "most strategic vote" of the congress. Critics viewed this move as an attempt to sidestage influential figures within the Ecologists, allowing Tondelier to take center stage herself.
Before declaring her closing speech, a warm embrace between Tondelier and Piolle occurred, as she had previously directed Piolle during the 2021 primary for the ecologists' presidential election. Piolle, though eliminated in the initial round, witnessed Yannick Jadot emerge as the victor over Sandrine Rousseau in the second round.
"It's fantastic! Means we can work together," Piolle shared with the AFP, highlighting his background in both local and national politics. Acknowledging his past involvements in "external politics," hewas eager to lend his real-world experience to help advance ecological politics within the party.
Brewing Internal Strife
The 16,000 members of the Ecologists party cast their votes from April 16 to 18. Not surprisingly, Tondelier bagged another term as party head in the first round with 73% of the votes, totaling 6,700 voters (and 49% participation). Her faction won across all party instances.
During her election bid in 2022, Tondelier decried the internal feuding within the party. Yet, she's encountered internal tensions of late. Critics allege a lack of democracy within the formation, blaming Tondelier for questionable adjustments to the electoral rules that they contend benefited her. Also, Tondelier's handling of the Julien Bayou affair and the party's disappointing performance in the 2024 European elections (5.5%) have been under fire.
"There's no reason for these internal tensions to linger, as we're all working towards a common goal," Piolle expressed to the AFP. "Everyone should remain focused on this common objective," he added optimistically.
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- Following his victory in the second-round elections on April 26, Eric Piolle, the newly installed mayor of Grenoble, will work alongside Marine Tondelier, the head of the Ecologists, in an effort to advance ecological politics within the party.
- In the 2025 congress wrap-up, Marine Tondelier, who deems Guillaume Hedouin's vote as the "most strategic" during the party elections, bested him to secure another term as head of the Ecologists, a decision that has been met with criticism from some party members.
- As a familiar face within the Ecologists, having directed Piolle during the 2021 primary for the ecologist's presidential election, Marine Tondelier encourages a united focus on their shared goal, despite growing internal tensions within the party.
- The mayoral victory and spokesperson appointment of Eric Piolle in Grenoble, as well as his involvement in both local and national politics, may contribute to policy-and-legislation initiatives and general news related to politics in the future.
