As we know, Christian Jacob is a big fan of hunting.
It happens that this is practiced with a decoy.
Is this what the President of the Republicans (LR) had in mind when he said, this Thursday, after a breakfast with Xavier Bertrand, that his preference for the presidential election “goes to François Baroin”?
Never had the boss of LR so clearly formulated his support for a man who had made it known in September… that he should not be counted on.
"Christian Jacob is free to say it", is satisfied to answer the entourage of François Baroin who recalls that the mayor of Troyes is indeed a candidate for the presidency ... of the LR federation of Aube whose election is being held. this Monday.
For the presidential ambition, we will come back.
"A question asked at the wrong time has no interest," slips Christian Jacob, recalling his mantra: the time to talk about the presidential election has not yet come.
Within the Republicans, they are not numerous to believe in the seriousness of the Baroin option while Xavier Bertrand is officially a candidate and the other contenders are organizing to try to impose a primary.
For many executives, the refrain Baroin illustrates above all the fragility of a Christian Jacob who had bet on the bad horse of Troyes before relying on Nicolas Sarkozy… until he was convicted in court.
“Talking about Baroin is a scam, a way to save time.
Jacob lies to the end.
He gets trapped in it, it looks like Cahuzac!
», Lashes an influential elected official.
“Evoking Baroin is a way for Jacob to exist and to be the boss.
And since he does not want either the primary, or Bertrand, or Philippe, or Macron ... ", observes a party executive for whom Christian Jacob, in doing so, is" the objective ally of Xavier Bertrand " : "The more time we save, the more we break the primary!"
"Jacob just wants a candidate who is needed to prevent the right from tope with Macron", observes a very close to Xavier Bertrand.
At LR, the fool's game ends up boring
At LR, it has not escaped anyone's notice that, while François Baroin does nothing to encourage speculation on his name, he does nothing to extinguish them.
Moreover, the one who was to officially formalize his renunciation after the senatorial elections at the end of September has never done so.
Invited in mid-March in our columns to confirm that he would not be a presidential candidate, he had evacuated: "This question is not so topical in the minds of the French".
One of his friends said: “He recently told me:
I won't go, but I'll let Jacob say it because it suits him and he's a friend
.
But at LR, the fool's game ends up getting boring.
During the strategic council last week, revealed L'Opinion, Rachida Dati set foot in the dish: “A candidate cannot stay in hiding indefinitely while waiting for his diaper to be prepared.
If he wants to go, he has to send a sign.
"
PODCAST.
Presidential 2022: Xavier Bertrand, itinerary of a former “small insurer” who became a candidate for the Élysée
Some of his relatives push him there.
"I do not know if François Baroin wants more today than yesterday to be a candidate but the situation would justify it to avoid the poison of the division", encourages the MEP Agnès Evren who puts the pressure on him: " I would like him to be a candidate.
Three months ago, respecting his wish not to go, I would not have said that.
But the political situation has changed with a real risk that the far right will win.
He embodies the right without compromise neither with LREM nor with the RN… ”“ Two things have changed since the fall, abounds the secretary general of LR Aurélien Pradié, close to Christian Jacob.
On the one hand, the Le Pen threat with which Baroin will never compromise by family inheritance and on the other hand, the absurd pressure which weighed on him has disappeared.
In his temperament, it matters.
"Alas, a figure on the right warns him:" We won't go looking for him in a sedan chair!
"
