Who is David Lisnard, mayor of Cannes and the new first mayor of France?

“Hard worker”, “very appreciated” by the inhabitants of Cannes where he was re-elected with 88% of the votes in 2020, the energetic David Lisnard (LR) will now chair the influential Association of Mayors of France (AMF). A mission that will allow this accomplished liberal to gain notoriety in view, perhaps, of the presidential election of 2027.

After having cleverly maintained the suspense, for several months, this 52-year-old French Riviera at the head of his own movement, New Energy, had finally given up on that of 2022 in the absence of an “open primary” on the right. Not without having already marked the spirits. The boss of senators LR Bruno Retailleau seeing in particular in him “a rising value with which it will be necessary to reckon”.

” He works a lot “

Agitator of ideas, author of a noted column on “French bureaucratic madness” and of two books advocating for culture and against incivism, his presence on the media scene had grown in strength at the start of the health crisis. The mayor of Cannes does not hesitate to anticipate certain government instructions by launching, for example, a municipal mask factory. But also sometimes by going perhaps a little too far, as with the disinfection of the beaches of the Croisette.

“In any case, we cannot take away from him that he works a lot and that he is very involved in the management of his city. He is a hard worker, “admits” despite significant political differences “the Cannes Communist Dominique Henrot. “He explains that the town is contrasted, that it displays a very high poverty rate, but nevertheless continues to focus mainly on luxury tourism and traders”, also advances the activist, recognizing him “a coherent course”.

The former leader of the local PS in his municipal team

Claiming humble origins, born in Limoges to parents who run clothing shops (which he will take over and sell), the 50-year-old explains that he has always worked in parallel with his political commitment. A graduate of the Institute of Political Studies in Bordeaux, this Chiraquian who joined the RPR at the age of 25 first studied in the Jura. From 1996 to 1999, he was chief of staff and parliamentary attaché to Jacques Pélissard, deputy mayor of Lons-le-Saunier and former president of the AMF.

He then returned to Cannes, the place of his roots. Coming from an old fishing family and a great-grandfather, an entrepreneur in the construction industry, to whom the people of Cannes owe the emblematic Forville market, in the historic district of the city, David Lisnard joined the municipal team of the former publicist Bernard Brochand. First assistant to tourism and president of the Palais des Festivals (2001-2008) then first assistant, he took over from the former mayor of Cannes in 2014. And gradually succeeded in bringing people together. The former local leader of the PS Apolline Crapiz is now his tenth assistant.

Sportsman and Clash fan

LREM and the RN had even given up presenting candidates against him in the municipal elections of 2020. “We questioned the people of Cannes and the fact is that David Lisnard is very appreciated,” had then justified a party executive of Marine Le Pen . “The diagnosis is very good on social issues, the environment”, also explained a local referent of Emmanuel Macron’s party.

Father of three children and remarried to a journalist from France 3 Côte d’Azur, David Lisnard is athletic (he runs the marathon), sensitive to the classical arts (his mother was a star dancer) as well as to punk (notably the Clash) and also a diligent reader. He does not hesitate to quote thinkers. “’Useless laws weaken the necessary laws” Montesquieu taught us wisely, ”he explained recently, calling for the cancellation of the obligation to wear a mask outdoors in the Alpes-Maritimes.