Montpellier municipal elections: billionaire Mohed Altrad tries his luck again

Billionaire Mohed Altrad, head of the construction group of the same name and of the Montpellier rugby club (MHR), announced a few days ago his candidacy for the municipal election in Montpellier, six years after reaching the third step of the podium in the previous election.

"At a time when many choose comfort, I have chosen the fight: I have decided to present myself as a candidate to be the next mayor of Montpellier," declared the French businessman born in Syria before some 500 people gathered in a hall in southern Montpellier, including the municipal councilor and former Macronist minister for Veterans Patricia Mirallès.

"This city needs to be revived. Montpellier needs a builder," added the septuagenarian in a calm voice, promising to "dismantle the system" of a town hall "run like a section of the Socialist Party," referring to the Socialist mayor Michaël Delafosse.

The business leader also made "a commitment to create 30.000 jobs" to make Montpellier "a city with zero unemployment".

"I will put in place a curfew from 10pm for minors under 16 years of age" and "the canteen will be free" for all children, he added in his 26-minute speech.

Free public transport is "an achievement, we will keep it," said Mohed Altrad, promising to clean up finances and review the traffic plan to eradicate traffic jams.

The controversial project, led by the metropolitan area, to establish a "CSR" (for solid recovered fuels) treatment unit on the outskirts of Montpellier "will be definitively abandoned", he also promised.

In his first candidacy, Mohed Altrad came third in the first round (13,3%), behind the outgoing left-wing mayor Philippe Saurel (19,11%) and the socialist Michaël Delafosse (16,66%).

In the second round, after concluding a surprising alliance with the comedian Rémi Gaillard (who came in 4th) and two left-wing lists, he had collected 18,12%, largely beaten by Michaël Delafosse, elected with 48,34%, and Philippe Saurel (24,65%).

He never served on the city council, from which he resigned without explanation in September 2024.

In December 2022, Mr. Altrad was found guilty by the Paris Criminal Court of having entered into a corruption pact with the former head of the French Rugby Federation, Bernard Laporte. He received an 18-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 50.000 euros.

Both are due to be retried on appeal in September 2026.