Presidential: at LR, four televised debates to decide between the candidates

On the right, the bullets will whistle four times.

The nomination of the Republican presidential candidate will only concern the members of the party, invited to choose him in congress on December 4.

But the candidates, now all inserted at LR (Michel Barnier, Xavier Bertrand, Éric Ciotti, Philippe Juvin, Denis Payre, Valérie Pécresse) agreed this Wednesday morning on the organization of four televised debates.

The first of these debates will take place on November 8 on LCI in partnership with RTL and Le Figaro.

A “pastille” is also planned in the television news of TF1.

A second debate will take place on November 14 on BFMTV / RMC before a third on November 21 on CNews.

Last meeting on November 30 on France 2, on the eve of the day when activists can actually start voting.

13,000 more inserts in less than a month

If the current virtual favorite of the ballot Michel Barnier would have preferred that the candidates stick to two debates, the decision to organize four was finally unanimous, especially as the television channels put pressure to organize these appointments. "We want as much debate as possible, it suits us", confides support from Xavier Bertrand, who will have to fight to convince the activists, still scalded by his departure from the party in 2017.

It's a way of putting the media focus on The Republicans when the right-wing candidate, whoever he is, is not currently in a position to reach the second round. It is also a way of attracting a few more voters since right-wing supporters have until November 16 to register with LR and be able to participate in the vote. Monday, the right-wing party claimed 93,300 inserts (against 80,000 at the congress of September 25), and some even hope to reach the 110,000 mark.

The challenge for the candidates will be to succeed in distinguishing themselves from others, without hitting each other.

"The objective is not to put on a show, we do not want the candidates to call out to each other for 1h30", confided to us this Monday the president of LR, Christian Jacob.

Avoid the usual “bloodbaths”, which can tend to weaken the successful candidate.

The right can hardly afford it, but will it be able to avoid it?