Election Results

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After all the excitement of The Election, Round One, we had to come home to England.

Oh, on the way, it was great to take our time and admire Vendôme, and poke about exploring Troglodyte caves, lovely to see Tom and Sarah and stay the night in London, and to pick up Emily after her term in Leicester - always an excellent excuse for a South Indian meal. But on Sunday night, the only place we wanted to be was back at Laroque, as they did the count after the second round of votes.

Monday morning, we eagerly turned on the computer to see if any news had come through...... and it could not have possibly been any better. Our whole group was elected - 2 of them were top of the list. The whole of the 'left' list was elected, but the Head of List, whom our group hadn't joined because he was tainted by his association with the out-going Mayor, came next to bottom, a whole 67 votes behind our Georges. Better than that, not only were the ex-Mayor's team not elected, but she and her Head of List came bottom of the poll altogether. So it's All Change at Laroque - we hope. The first Council meeting's this Wednesday - who will be Mayor? Surely the Head of List, with his relatively poor vote, has no mandate? We feel out on a limb, or would do, if we didn't get emails keeping us in touch, and even some photos taken on the night.

So for now, it's time to catch up with family and friends here, and enjoy the daffodils and final crocuses. Sure, they do daffodils in France, but not the glorious swathes you see in parks and gardens here. And crocuses, the joy on any February day in Harrogate as you stroll acros the Stray, apparently don't exist in our part of France, and we missed them, a lot.

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Photos

The results are announced
Not much to see. Just lots of the candidates and supporters crowded into the local sports hall and enjoying the first taste of victory

The results board
For our benefit more than yours: the results just as they're transcribed onto the board as the voting figures are announced