After the theatrical blow of the renunciation of Benjamin Griveaux, the negotiations resumed between the candidates for the Town hall of Paris. Objects of the negotiations: the organization of a televised debate before the first round of the municipal elections. Behind the scenes, the three channels ready to welcome them live have regained hope.
Main reason to believe: Rachida Dati has changed her mind. “I am not opposed to the debate. If there is someone who never refuses to debate, it's me! "Proclaimed last week on France 2 the head of the list of Republicans. A week earlier, she had categorically refused to participate in "an assured rat race".
The other main candidates, Anne Hidalgo (PS), Cédric Villani (dissident from LREM), David Belliard (EELV) are already in the make-up. Ditto for Danielle Simonnet (LFI) and Serge Federbusch (RN), a time excluded from the evening. "One of the conditions is that there are 7 of them on set," says a connoisseur.
It remains to convince Agnès Buzyn now. "This point has not yet been discussed with her," officially tempers the entourage of the brand new candidate of LREM. "She assured us that she was ready," says one of the potential organizers. For Agnès Buzyn, everything is above all a question of timing. Appointed Sunday at short notice in the rubble of the Griveaux affair, less than a month before the first round, the former Minister of Health will have to make a lightning campaign. It's not easy to find a date in your busy calendar. "The debate should take place in early March," says an informed source.
If all the candidates all agree on the principle, remains to find a broadcaster. Again, nothing is simple. Three channels offered their services, with the condition of being live and exclusive. "A debate simultaneously on several channels does not make sense," breathes the leader of one of them. Three options are then available to Parisian candidates: BFMTV, or its rival LCI, the news channel of the TF 1 group which has partnered with RTL radio, and finally a joint offer from the public service.
Franceinfo (radio as well as the news channel) offers to be simultaneous with France Bleu-Île-de-France and France 3 Île-de-France. The latter has planned to organize three evenings of debates on municipal elections in the Paris region. On Wednesday 26 February, the five aspirants to the town hall of Saint-Denis will succeed those in the running for the town hall Mantes-la-Ville.
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The date of Wednesday March 4 has been set aside for the Paris debate. "We are still working on this evening but also on B plans in case ... Because we will offer a debate that evening and we will not bring out a Captain Marleau in the event of refusal", blows a part of France Televisions.
