The former lawyer answers questions from La Gazette du Var.

He also presented the running mates accompanying him in the municipal election adventure taking place on March 15 and 22. The former lawyer answers questions from La Gazette du Var. You gathered more than 300 people at Espace Jean-Paul Maurric, a successful bet?

Marc VOLPIN. In the town's history, I think no candidate has ever booked Espace Jean-Paul Maurric for their electoral campaign. Some thought we were reckless and predicted an empty hall.

It's not the first time this has happened to me. No matter how much I warn them, they never see me coming! Our meeting was a very big success; the Espace Maurric car park was heavily saturated.

The feedback is very positive and gratifying; the residents of La Crau welcomed a beautiful moment of democracy.

Why in your opinion is democracy losing its vitality in La Crau? MV. In our town, six out of ten voters no longer go to the polls because they have grown used to the same family being elected again and feel their votes change nothing.

I would like to point out that the outgoing mayor is running for a fourth term after his father had been elected in the town since 1969. The mayor takes pride in this, but on the ground, I observe a silent anger that many residents of La Crau express through abstention, thinking they are being heard. However, this is an illusion that in reality allows the system in place to maintain itself thanks to its networks of influence established for over half a century.

What is your strategy to win back the hearts of abstainers? MV. We have a fully realized, rich, and coherent program on which we have worked in think tanks.

We also have a dynamic and united team with absolutely incredible skills. I took the time to convince them one by one of the opportunity we have to work together to improve our daily lives. The voters of La Crau just need to drive the point home and together we will write a new page in our town's history.

You talk a lot about freedom of expression in La Crau. What is the situation? MV.

As a former lawyer, I am very attached to freedom of expression; it is part of my training. I observe that it is in jeopardy in La Crau, and I weigh my words. I am currently at 800 torn-down posters.

The slightest look in the street is scrutinized, the slightest like on my posts is recorded, and municipal staff do not dare attend my meetings. This tension is not normal; I will ensure that the residents of La Crau can express themselves once again without fear of reprisals. It is time for a code of conduct to be adopted!

What are your flagship projects? MV. We want to create a municipal educational farm to supply school cafeterias.

This project has multiple virtues: improving our children's health, maintaining an agricultural fabric around the town, and asserting the identity of our territory. I am also thinking of our public transport and our cycle paths, which need to be deployed urgently. Finally, although the project was approved by the municipal council, we are going to oppose the mayor's project to destroy our historical center around Avenue de La Libération.

All towns showcase their history; in La Crau, they are destroying our schools, our former town hall, our village houses. It's an absurdity!

Still no debates between candidates in La Crau? MV. I reached out to the mayor several times to work together, then to debate. He never replied. He campaigns one month before the elections to avoid the issues. All he wants is to keep his mayoral seat. That is not my vision of a serene mayor.