Zilio announces candidacy for Vaucluse council presidency

Anthony Zilio, the mayor of Bollène, has officially entered the race for the presidency of the Vaucluse departmental council, making him the first candidate to declare his candidacy. He held a press conference on October 28 to announce his decision, signaling the start of the campaign for the upcoming election.

Santoni steps down due to new role

Current president of the Vaucluse departmental council, Dominique Santoni, must leave her position after winning the September senatorial elections. Under French law, she cannot hold both the role of senator and departmental council president, so she has chosen to step down and take up her new position in the Senate.

Zilio praises Santoni’s work

Zilio expressed appreciation for Santoni’s leadership during her time as president. He stated that he supported her in the 2021 elections and does not regret that decision. He emphasized that his candidacy is not a challenge to her work but a continuation of the progress made under her leadership.

Zilio is the only declared candidate

As of now, Zilio is the only candidate officially running for the presidency of the Vaucluse departmental council. The National Rally, a major political party, has stated it will not field a candidate and will not vote in the election, leaving the race with only one declared contender.

Zilio’s campaign focuses on unity

Zilio described his candidacy as "unifying" and emphasized that it would be "without a label" and "independent." He is calling on his 25 fellow departmental councilors from the left and moderate right to join him in building a strong foundation for future elections, particularly the 2028 departmental elections.

Zilio outlines six key priorities

If elected, Zilio plans to focus on six main priorities: improving health and access to care, enhancing security, strengthening solidarity and child protection, promoting access to culture and preserving Provençal identity, protecting agriculture and rural areas, and increasing support for local communes.