Overview
- Christelle Petex announced on November 6 that she is stepping down from her National Assembly seat for Haute-Savoie’s 3rd constituency and from her departmental council mandate.
- Under French law her voluntary resignation requires a legislative by-election in the constituency in the coming months rather than installation of a stand-in.
- Some regional reporting suggested her suppléant, Xavier Brand, would directly take the seat, a claim contradicted by outlets citing the by-election requirement.
- Associated with Les Républicains and elected since 2014, Petex said months of leave followed a “trop de tout” including criticism, attacks, dissuasion attempts and threats.
- The vacancy sets up a closely watched local contest in a historically right-leaning district where Petex had taken independent positions such as opposing the 2023 pension reform.