Elected mayor of Montargis last March, Côme Dunis has announced his resignation for health reasons. At 36, the National Rally representative is leaving his mayoral post after only 129 days in office, but intends to remain a city councilor as long as his health allows.
Just over four months after taking office, Côme Dunis is leaving his post as mayor of Montargis. The National Rally representative announced his resignation on Wednesday, August 5, citing a recently diagnosed health problem that now requires his full attention.
In a statement, the mayor explained that he learned "a few days ago" that he was facing a medical issue that required him to reconsider his commitments. Wishing to protect his privacy, he did not provide any details about the nature of the issue.
"This decision is, without a doubt, the most difficult of my life," he confides.
To justify his departure, Côme Dunis also emphasized the demands inherent in the role of mayor. According to him, his health no longer allows him to guarantee the approximately 15,000 residents of Montargis the availability and commitment necessary to fulfill his mandate. He also asserted that he did not want his personal situation to slow down the projects undertaken by the new municipal majority.
A recent conquest of the National Rally
This resignation comes just months after a symbolic victory for the National Rally. On March 22nd, Côme Dunis won the municipal elections after a particularly close second round. Fewer than a hundred votes separated the three remaining lists.
Having officially taken office on March 29, the former Yellow Vest, who previously belonged to The Republicans, will ultimately have led Montargis for only 129 days.
His election allowed the National Rally to take control of this sub-prefecture in the Loiret department. Shortly after his arrival, the new municipal team raised concerns about the town's financial situation, with Côme Dunis reporting several million euros in unpaid bills.
The elected official's political career had begun well before this victory. A former LR activist, he had notably been an unsuccessful candidate in Paucourt during the 2020 municipal elections. He had also been sentenced to three months' suspended imprisonment after participating, in 2018, in the bricking up of the entrance to the Montargis tax office as part of an activist action.
His successor will be appointed in September.
The mayor's resignation will not trigger new municipal elections. Once his departure is accepted by the prefect of Loiret, the municipal council will have to meet to elect a new mayor from among its members. This election is expected to take place in September.
Côme Dunis asserts that a single candidate must emerge from within the majority to ensure continuity of municipal action. However, the identity of his successor has not yet been officially announced. Among the names mentioned locally is that of Dominique Coquelle, deputy mayor in charge of security.
Côme Dunis does not intend to completely abandon municipal life. He wishes to retain his position as a municipal councillor and continue to support his team as long as his health allows.
National Rally MP Thomas Ménagé, representing Loiret, publicly offered his support, praising a decision he believes was made in the best interests of Montargis residents. A close associate of Côme Dunis, he also wished him well in his return to political life once he has overcome this ordeal. For the National Rally, the challenge now is to ensure a swift and undivided succession in a city they won less than five months ago.
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