Baron Noir

Between the first two rounds of the French presidential election, Mayor of Dunkirk Philippe Rickwaert, the friend and personal advisor to the Socialist candidate Francis Laugier, is warned there will be a financial investigation in a social housing office in Dunkirk which he misused to finance the campaign.

While the elections take place, Rickwaert figures out Laugier's new strategy - he has sent his special advisor, Dorendeu, to help a Green candidate to hinder the far-right candidate's chances of retaining its Northern constituency.

Having become increasingly ill, the first secretary of the Socialist Party steps down, triggering a vicious battle over succession to the post. As conflict ensues between Rickwaert and Laugier, Dorendeu finds herself caught in the middle of it all.

While Laugier launches education reforms, Rickwaert decides he can use a student movement against him. In Rickwaert's opinion, pulling the strings behind a demonstration for young people will pave the perfect path for him to return to the heart of politics.

Rickwaert tries everything he can to charm and get in with the leaders of the opposition. He negotiates with the former right-wing President to support the student demonstrations, causing shockwaves through the political community.

Rickwaert leads a ruthless battle to maintain his position in Dunkirk and seems to be back on Laugier's side. Laugier stands up to the Germans over EU sanctions on the excessive deficit.

Released from prison between the two rounds of the presidential election, yet still monitored by an electronic bracelet, Philippe Rickwaert attempts to convince socialist candidate Amélie Dorendeu to review her strategy. He wants her to strike an alliance with Michel Vidal, leader of the radical left party. But soon, the Baron Noir is overtaken by his own maneuvers, which threaten to weaken Dorendeu. They now run the risk of a National Front victory.

Philippe reunites with his former fiefdom: Dunkirk. In the midst of the legislative elections, he sows discord in his successor's campaign and succeeds in forcing a political compromise that would lead to his comeback as an elected politician.

Amélie faces her first political roadblock as she struggles to rally the legislative majority she needs to pass her key Health Act. At the same time, Cyril Balsan, a young member of parliament representing the suburbs, starts to fight against a proposed electoral communitarianism that he believes will benefit Islamists. While helping Amélie, Philippe realizes that his former assistant's struggle could give him the opportunity to get rid of a political enemy of his own. But a few socialist barons, furious at Cyril's accusations, decide to respond by jeopardizing the ...

The parliamentary crisis reaches a new peak. Without an absolute majority, Amelie is more weakened than ever. Yet she refuses to resort to constitutional shortcuts in order to force her way through. Philippe sees the opportunity to persuade her to try the Left Alliance with Michel Vidal. In the meantime, the young President must handle the threat of a Jihadist attack. Facing this adversity transforms Amélie, hardening her resolve. She is determined to become the President she wants to be, according to her own criteria, at the risk of bringing chaos to her relationship...

Abandoned by Amélie, ruined by his lawsuit, Philippe is in big trouble. At the same time, Amélie brings the socialist barons in line with an iron fist. She gives them no choice but to accept her offer: strike an alliance with the centrists. Refusing the defeat, Philippe undertakes a wild counteroffensive, seeking out a leader able to defy Amélie.

While Cyril imposes himself on the media circuit with a secular-focused political line, and Amélie triumphs with Thorigny as her new Prime Minister, Philippe must face judgment. With Laugier dead, Philippe knows that he will have to accept his responsibility for a corrupt system he did not take advantage of. This sense of injustice drives him to attempt a last-ditch effort and meet the Secretary-General of the Élysée.

Philippe Rickwaert celebrates the end of his ineligibility with an ambitious plan: to revive the Socialist Party from its ashes in order to run for president and disrupt the three-way race between President Amélie Dorendeu, Vidal's "left-wing populism," and Chalon's far right. Immediately, the blows rain down, but Philippe must above all face a questioning that touches the heart of his political identity...

Too hampered by the moribund state of the PS, Philippe joined Michel Vidal's Debout le Peuple (Stand Up, People) party. This is actually an old tactic: entryism. With regional elections looming in Hauts-de-France, Philippe sees a golden opportunity to apply his strategy of uniting the left against Vidal's will. Philippe pulls the strings in all camps. But Vidal is not fooled by his double game.

Rejected by Véro, who remains loyal to Vidal, Philippe is unable to implement his strategy of entryism. During a trip to Spain, Vidal alternates between humiliation and seduction to recruit him and make him give up his ambitions for the Élysée. Amélie fails in her attempt to set up a Green New Deal with Germany due to revelations about the chancellor's personal life.

Amélie surprises everyone by announcing a referendum aimed at modernizing the institutions of the Fifth Republic. Disappointed by Vidal's decision to vote No, Philippe declares war on him by positioning himself in favor of Yes and calls for an internal vote to settle the controversy, and above all to build his faction. Vidal proposes that the vote take place after a debate between the two men, a veritable duel tailored to his advantage.

The predicted defeat of the Yes vote poses a serious threat to Philippe, who risks having to bury his political ambitions for good. But the surprise emergence of an abstentionist on the scene muddies the campaign waters. Philippe starts to believe again, even if it means playing with fire.

After calling for unity among the left following violent clashes at polling stations, Philippe hits the road to convince people that he can bring them together. While Amélie has clearly given up on running again, Philippe is determined to unite the left during his political marriage, but Vidal refuses to give in to blackmail, preferring to flirt with the anti-establishment Mercier.