He had announced it to his relatives, more than a month ago.
It would be quiet in March ... before coming out of the woods as April approaches.
To tumble down, noisily.
It's done: the president (ex-LR) of the Hauts-de-France region, Xavier Bertrand announces in an interview with Point to be published this Thursday that he is "determined" to be a candidate for the presidential election in 2022. This door that he had already opened, explaining last summer that he was "preparing" for this race, he now chooses to break it down.
“Yes I will be a candidate.
In the current situation in France, I believe that it is my duty, ”argues the former Minister of Labor and Health of Nicolas Sarkozy, now 56 years old.
In this long interview with the weekly marked on the right, the elected Northerner poses three central themes, which he wants to make his political backbone for the months to come: "restore the authority of the State, turn the page on centralism Parisian and redo work the keystone of our national project ”.
I want a proud, recovered and reconciled France.
➡️ Restore the authority of the State
➡️ Establish a Republic of the territories
➡️ Redo work the keystone of our national
project My project for France 🇫🇷 read in @LePoint ⬇️https: //t.co/Kp9boyLRgx
- Xavier Bertrand (@xavierbertrand) March 24, 2021
So many markers which, he hopes, will help to install it in the costume of a candidate well identified on the right.
And candidate of the right short.
Because this is the meaning of this media acceleration: while his camp is desperate to find an incarnation, a leader for 2022, and as potential candidates multiply, he wants to impose himself on the entire right-center bloc. right like the one to be reckoned with.
“On the right, we cannot remain in this uncertainty.
The French do not want the Marine Le Pen duel against Emmanuel Macron, so he says
I embody the alternative,
”comments Eric Diard, deputy (LR) of Bouches-du-Rhône, and claimed support for Bertrand.
"It is 15-16% in the polls, it's time to try to accelerate to pass a course", argues Julien Dive, deputy (LR) of Aisne, loyal lieutenant.
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Passing a course, in the midst of the crisis, while the French are wondering what kind of sanitary sauce they are going to be eaten in the coming weeks?
“We should not be completely locked into the health crisis.
If he does not take a political risk, it is pointless to target the Elysee.
He wants to show his absolute determination, ”explains Jean-Paul Mulot, spokesperson for La Manufacture, the micro-party created by Xavier Bertrand.
"We have the Covid now, but we will also have the Covid in two months ..." abounds Eric Diard.
"I will not participate in a primary"
Still, this speech is likely to tick, on the side of the Republicans, a party that he left in December 2017. Especially since Bertrand reaffirms it loud and clear: "I will not participate in a primary.
A way to put LR up against the wall, and to encourage Christian Jacob's party to support the one who seems to be in the best position today.
Except that, if they are numerous to shun the principle of a new primary, Xavier Bertrand is still very far from gaining unanimity within his former family… which he will however need for 2022. His potential competitors are also likely to do not appreciate that he is trying to confiscate the label of champion of the right in this way.
From the leader of senators LR Bruno Retailleau, to the president (ex-LR) of Ile-de-France Valérie Pécresse, to Laurent Wauquiez: no one has said his last word for 2022. Michel Barnier, the former “Mr. Brexit ”, said this very Thursday in an interview with the EBRA group that he still has“ the same strength ”and also wants to count.
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PODCAST. Who is Michel Barnier, the ex "Mr. Brexit" who wants to represent LR in the 2022 presidential election
Xavier Bertrand, in any case, accelerates.
But if he aims for the Elysee, he will first have to be careful not to stumble on the regional ones.
His opponents have already grabbed the ball: “Does the region still interest him?
“, Tackled the RN candidate in Hauts-de-France, Sébastien Chenu, on Wednesday evening.
The race is in any case well and truly underway.