Whether at the Rungis market at 5 a.m., at the Parisian demonstration in support of the police or strolling through a new wood in Seine-Saint-Denis, Valérie Pécresse (Libres!) Stands out with her red coat.
A simple garment that has become a visual identity?
"Initially it was to look good, when I'm tired it shows less," assures the outgoing president of the Ile-de-France region and candidate for his succession.
"This coat is getting old," she adds.
But it has become a bit of a lucky charm.
"
While waiting to know if he will bring her luck on June 20 and 27, the candidate occupies the field and pole position in the polls. Since entering the campaign late, she has defended her record with force and a leitmotif: to practice politics through evidence. "One day a gentleman told me that I was
a lady to do,
" she jokes, sitting cross-legged on the sofa of her campaign headquarters in the 9th arrondissement, just under a poster of Master Yoda.
At 53, Valérie Pécresse nevertheless retains the image of an iron lady.
"This does not correspond to what she really is, she is one of those people who deserve to be known", assures Jean-Didier Berger, mayor of Clamart and director of his campaign.
He is one of those who followed her at the time of the creation of Libres!
in September 2017, claiming a more moderate right than that of Laurent Wauquiez, then patron of the Republicans.
"She has a strength of character that is rare and underestimated by her opponents"
A party from which she truly freed herself in June 2019, after the rout to the Europeans, to trace "her" route. “Valérie Pécresse is a woman of great determination, she has a rare strength of character and, in my opinion, underestimated by her opponents. She never gives up, ”underlines Patrick Stefanini, architect of the 2015 victory and former director general of services in the region.
After two decades in politics, Valérie Pécresse admits having forged a shell.
In particular because of the cartoons of which she is the target.
“Personally, it's hard, but that's the price to pay during an election period,” believes the one who has tipped the region to the right, to very quickly make security its hobbyhorse.
“I was elected three weeks after the Bataclan,” she recalls.
Yes, security is a priority because for me it is the first injustice in our region.
"
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Not enough to soften the image of the former Minister of Higher Education and then the Budget of Nicolas Sarkozy, at the top of the class course: HEC, ENA, master of request to the Council of State, government commissioner under Jacques Chirac, Member of Parliament for Yvelines.
"My father, who was a teacher, always told me:
your only heritage is your diploma
", emphasizes Valérie Pécresse who grew up in Neuilly (Hauts-de-Seine) before moving to Versailles (Yvelines).
Absolute control over your privacy
Valérie Pécresse is struggling to get rid of the label from this so connoted West of Paris.
Just like the “headband” that Claude Bartolone, head of the PS lists in 2015, had decked out in. “But it was not the left that moved the headquarters of the region to Seine-Saint-Denis, 200 meters from a district of republican reconquest, it is indeed me ”, she insists, pinning in passing the“ left of the beautiful districts ”which did not want to leave the 7th arrondissement.
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"The very ones who called me
blonde
." And everyone found that normal since I am on the right, ”assures Valérie Pécresse. "I started politics long before metoo", she continues with a small grimace that says a lot about the flood of sexist remarks that had to be accepted. "I am in heels because I hate being looked down upon, and I hardly ever wear a skirt because I want people to look me in the eye", continues the candidate who had published in 2007 "Being a woman in politics… it's not that easy ”.
Never revealing the slightest fragility also requires absolute control of your private life.
To spare her three children as much as possible, two boys who are now adults and a girl in terminal.
"Yes I overprotected them," she claims firmly.
To heal my image, I could have exhibited them.
But I chose them!
"
Presidential ambitions?
According to those around her, she is nonetheless attentive to women's issues. “She knows perfectly well what it is to juxtapose professional and personal life. Working with her is very inspiring ”, underlines Florence Portelli, mayor (LR) of Taverny (Val-d'Oise) and outgoing vice-president of the region. Who sees this first term as "that of fulfillment". “She applied her program, for the first time her choices, right in her heels! »Supports Florence Portelli.
Undeniably right-wing but with this feminist dimension, more and more claimed and inspired by Simone Veil, whose name she gave to the hemicycle of the regional council.
“I have always been surrounded by women, because they know that with me there is only an obligation of result, and that if it is necessary to leave earlier because there is a galley of nanny, it is not not a problem.
This is also the life of Ile-de-France residents, ”she assures us.
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From president of the first region of France to first president of France, Valérie Pécresse's ambitions are no secret.
"I am convinced that the solutions of the social right are the right ones", she offers as an answer to this question which has been repeated for months.
And no question of giving in to the ambient speech according to which his political family would be on the verge of dissolving into the National Rally.
"Not my right," she cuts immediately.
The RN is infrequent and my right has no possible porosity with this party.
"
His five proposals
1.
Creation of a regional health mutual.
“It will be aimed at retirees, students, job seekers and self-employed workers.
Our objective is to reduce prices by 20 to 30% thanks to a regional call for tenders ”.
2.
Completion of the regional transport police.
“We are going to recruit 1,000 additional agents, for a total workforce of 4,000 people.
And create a command center at the police headquarters, unique in Europe, where images from the 80,000 network cameras will be displayed ”.
3.
Establishment of the tariff shield in transport.
“We will put an end to the last price injustice: that on very long distances and occasional tickets.
A maximum rate of 4 euros will be created for those who do not have a Navigo pass, regardless of the route ”.
4.
Creation of the regional TIG agency against recidivism.
“Today, community service takes 400 days to complete.
It is ineffective.
We will set up a regional TIG agency so that these sentences are carried out quickly ”.
5.
Premium of 6,000 euros to replace polluting cars.
“I'm not against the car, I'm against pollution.
I am therefore proposing a bonus of 6,000 euros to help Ile-de-France residents affected by the low-emission zone (ZFE) to buy electric cars ”.
