One rebound chases the other in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
The latest, Friday morning statements on Franceinfo by Secretary of State Sophie Cluzel.
"I am a candidate for the presidential majority
(in the regional elections, editor's note)
, the presidential majority will be represented in the first round (...) it will not change, (...) I want it to be very clear"
, said the macronist leader.
His candidacy was disconnected last Sunday by the Prime Minister in favor of an alliance with Renaud Muselier, the outgoing LR president of the region.
Alas, the ill-crafted agreement and the envisaged presence of the Secretary of State on the lists provoked a barrage from the right.
Renaud Muselier demanding that Sophie Cluzel first leave the government before claiming a seat on the regional council.
A condition rejected by the Walker.
To read also: Regional: Éric Dupond-Moretti prepares his landing in Hauts-de-France
Faced with this imbroglio, two solutions were available to her.
Depart from the ballot so as not to hinder the LR-LREM gathering imagined to block the RN.
Or try to win at all costs.
It is this last option that was chosen by Sophie Cluzel, who refuses to be a fuse and to give up setting up in the Var.
A department where she has family ties but where she does not hold any mandate.
A final push
A persistence that provokes the discontent of several parliamentarians walkers.
“I will not participate in this carnival. I fully support the President of the Republic, but in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur the return of Sophie Cluzel, it will be without me, ”
said LREM deputy of the Alpes-Maritimes Alexandra Valetta-Ardisson.
"I bring my support to Renaud Muselier"
, insists the deputy, ex-LR. Same annoyance on the left wing of the majority.
“Parliamentarians have been waiting for three days to know his position. We had to listen to his interview to be informed, ”
protested the LREM deputy of Var Cécile Muschotti.
"I experienced the National Front in 1995 in Toulon and the withdrawal of the left in 2015 against Marion Maréchal-Le Pen"
, underlines the elected, ex-head of the list of the PS in the Var in 2015, which calls for
"a real negotiation with Renaud Muselier"
to block the road to the candidate RN Thierry Mariani. The elected representatives of the majority were to discuss Friday evening with the Secretary of State during a videoconference. If her supporters were very discreet - refusing to speak publicly - others still hoped to convince her not to submit her lists.
A scenario considered realistic by the majority.
The morning declaration of the Secretary of State being above all presented as a final pressure blow sent to Renaud Muselier, more than a definitive announcement.
"She recovered the Cerfa files
(making it possible to stand for an election)
and telephones the candidates on her lists to have them filled out and reserve the right to submit them"
, slips a framework of the presidential majority.
"She is trying to put pressure on to reopen the negotiations but that will not work"
, squeaks Cécile Muschotti.
Read also: After the regional, the specter of a final reshuffle
“There are 10 days left before the lists are deposited. We will see where we will land, ”
said LREM. AFP a government source certifies that
"discussions continue with Renaud Muselier"
. If Sophie Cluzel insists on being part of it, she appears isolated. Despite their departures this week from LR, the mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, and his counterpart from Toulon, Hubert Falco, reaffirmed their support for Renaud Muselier on Friday. Which can also count on several outgoing elected members of the MoDem or on the LREM deputy of the Alpes-Maritimes Loïc Dombreval, who called for support Renaud Muselier long before the announcement of the Prime Minister.
The outgoing president of the region castigated the attitude of Sophie Cluzel in a tweet:
“Her re-candidacy, after a week of endless soap opera, is a narrow logic of the political apparatus! I remain faithful to my logic of gathering, with personalities 100% committed to #Notreregiondabord, around our assessment and our program. ”“ Renaud Muselier must make an effort and reconnect with us. And the majority must also make an effort and take into account local realities. Sophie Cluzel is a soldier, reason will prevail, ”
commented in a majority staff, a way of asking the Secretary of State to step aside. Comment from a parliamentarian from the region:
"I cannot accept that we leave the region to the RN because of an ego problem
."
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