Former EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier told
La Croix
on Thursday
that he intends to "
take (his) part
" in the political debate in the run-up to the 2022 presidential election, and pleads for "
a center right solid and united
”.
Read also: Can Michel Barnier save the right?
"
We must play collectively and I will organize myself with all the people who want to help me - and there are enough of them - to take my part in the political debate
," said Michel Barnier, still a member of LR, on a daily basis. online Thursday.
The former minister of Nicolas Sarkozy and Jacques Chirac assured not to be "
in a people's game
".
But "
we need a united and solid center right in France, for the balance of the country
", he added.
The idea of a return of Michel Barnier on the French political scene arose a few weeks ago, and according to an Ifop poll published on Wednesday, 15% of the French believe that he would be a "
good candidate
" for the right in the second lap, behind Xavier Bertrand (27%) and Valérie Pécresse (17%) but ahead of Bruno Retailleau (6%).
Michel Barnier explained that he had "
kept a lot of contact with parliamentarians and local elected officials
" and assured: "
Beyond my own political family, I have a lot of friends who call me, and whom I see
".
"
I will organize myself to have the means to work, with a small team,
" he says.
Read also: Presidential 2022: Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron neck and neck in the second round, according to a survey
The Covid crisis, which causes "a
lot of suffering
" and "
worsens injustices
", will, according to him, "
obviously have political consequences
".
But Michel Barnier warned against "
unnecessary controversy
" believing that "
we must be fair with the current power
."
"
The risk for the country of being fractured has never been so serious
" and "this
is one of the reasons why I want to take my part in this public debate
", he adds.