Xavier Bertrand does not go there by four ways.
In an interview given this Sunday to the JDD, the former tenor of the Republicans, now declared a candidate for the presidential election, attacks Emmanuel Macron whom he accuses of "confusing naivety about Islamism".
According to the former mayor of Saint-Quentin (Aisne), the head of state "absolutely did not appreciate the threat posed by radical Islamism to our society and our values".
The one who seeks the supreme magistracy warns: if he is elected, "the financing coming directly or indirectly from foreign States will be prohibited".
He also called for "immediately dissolving all Islamist organizations which propagate a political ideology incompatible with the values we hold".
He also wants to "ban Salafism" in France.
"Take our part in this drama, but not under any conditions"
The former Minister of Labor of Nicolas Sarkozy also returned to the burning news of the moment in Afghanistan.
He believes that "given the American withdrawal, France has lacked leadership".
He says he is particularly concerned about the plight of women and calls for "never to forget the sacrifice of 90 French soldiers who died in combat in Afghanistan, which made it possible to protect our country against potential terrorist attacks".
According to him, we must be firm with the new strongmen of Kabul.
"If Afghanistan once again becomes the rear base for anti-Western terrorism, massive and swift sanctions will have to be triggered."
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Asked about the reception of Afghans on French territory, he assured that France should "take its part but not under any conditions, and not alone".
As for the French intervention zones, he spoke in favor of maintaining the tricolor troops in Mali.
"We owe it to the 55 soldiers who died for France in the Sahel," he declared.
"Republican reconquest"
On the issue of migration policy, the president of the Hauts-de-France region wants a "return of the police and its public services to the neighborhoods" in order to ensure the "republican reconquest" of these sensitive areas.
He nevertheless wishes "to take back in hand the possibility of social advancement for young people of all origins" because, according to him, "our compatriots of Muslim faith are asking us for it in their immense majority".
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Finally, on the more personal question of his candidacy for the presidential election, he reaffirmed his wish not to go through a primary but affirms that he will "reach out" to Valérie Pécresse or Laurent Wauquiez. "I will open my team to all talents, to campaign as well as to lead the country," he concluded.
