mayors of Hauts-de-France boycott social networks of their marketing campaign | EUROtoday

“This page, created during the 2020 municipal campaign, will close in a few days. » On November 3, 2020, Nicolas Bouche (various center), elected five months earlier mayor of Lambersart (North), a wealthy town of 28,000 inhabitants in the Lille metropolis, announced in a Facebook post his withdrawal from social networks. Since then, he has not been seen there again. While he is seeking a second term, the 55-year-old councilor with a mischievous look brushes aside any intention of making a return, despite the municipal elections in March which are approaching.

Only the town hall, as an institution, remains present on social networks, particularly on Instagram and TikTok. Contrary to a political class inclined to rush to these tools today considered essential in terms of political communication and guarantors of visibility, certain mayors of France have chosen to give them up during the campaign for the next election.

A risky bet? “I don’t know” admits Nicolas Bouche, who explains that he gave in to this digital communication six years ago, more out of mimicry than out of conviction. “ In 2020, it was obvious, he continues. You had to have a Facebook page to spread the news. Everyone did that. But With hindsight, it is impossible for me to know if these networks were really beneficial to my election. My only certainty today is that they are poison. »

A city psychiatrist, the city councilor says he can measure the psychological ravages on his patients: “Ethically, I had to be consistent and not promote a tool that I consider harmful. » As mayor, he regrets that social networks have become “a place where we argue, not where we discuss”.

Insults and threats

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