Virginie Calmels renounces to run for the head of the Republicans (LR), announces in the
Journal du Dimanche
the former number 2 of the party, denouncing a poll according to her "
biased
".
On August 29, the High Authority of LR had rejected the candidacy of Virginie Calmels, arguing that she was not up to date with contributions on July 22, 2022.
The decision has since been invalidated by the courts, but another difficulty arose afterwards, Virginie Calmels asking for the postponement of the dates of the ballot, scheduled for December 3 and 4 for the first round, in order to have time to campaign - this which LR refused.
“
Not wishing to endorse these multiple legal irregularities and these political maneuvers by my participation in this election, I decided to withdraw
,” she told the
JDD
.
Read alsoVirginie Calmels, ex-number 2 of LR: “This election turns into a farce”
“
I bow out to this tartufferie.
“She also announces her desire not to participate in the campaign, whose declared candidates are the deputy of the Alpes-Maritimes Eric Ciotti, the boss of the senators LR Bruno Retailleau, the secretary general of LR Aurélien Pradié and the mayor of Orléans Serge Grouard.
According to Virginie Calmels, "
some are pulling the strings behind the scenes to install Eric Ciotti at the head of the party and immediately proclaim Laurent Wauquiez as LR's candidate for the presidency of 2027. My candidacy was a grain of sand in the cogs of a scenario that wanted well oiled.
Virginie Calmels, of liberal sensibility, is a former assistant to Alain Juppé in Bordeaux.
She had been sacked in June 2018 by Laurent Wauquiez, then party boss, and in open conflict with her.
Former CEO of Endemol Monde, Virginie Calmels joined the luxury real estate group Barnes in 2019 and launched a digital school in 2020.
