Arm wrestling between Rachida Dati and François Baroin. The new Minister of Culture, expelled from the Republicans (LR) after her appointment, did not appreciate the remarks of her former comrade against her during her municipal greetings on Friday. "I've known her for a long time. It's always surprising to see people boarding the Titanic with a smile on their faces, especially when you know the end of the story. We think she lacks lucidity," said the mayor of Troyes and LR MP for Aube, as reported by L'Est Éclair.
A speech that did not fail to provoke a reaction from Rachida Dati. "His words are undignified. I don't need to be lectured," she said on X (formerly Twitter) at the end of the day on Monday. "François Baroin is an heir who has done nothing in his life other than take advantage of the protections he has received. And who at decisive moments has slipped away, both for our political family and for the country," she added, without mincing words.
François Baroin is an heir who has done nothing in his life other than enjoy the protections he has received. And that at decisive moments has slipped away, both for our political family and for the country. His words are undignified. I don't need to be lectured. https://t.co/JmnGiAr85u
— Rachida Dati ن (@datirachida) January 15, 2024
During his municipal greetings, François Baroin took a long swipe at the mayor of the 7th arrondissement of Paris and considered that the City Hall, which Rachida Dati covets, "is a prospect that is receding for her".
As for her decision to accept a place in government, he said: "Does she really believe that the cruise will be pretty and sunny? Macronia is going to explode. Before launching as a warning to those who might be tempted to do the same: "With this siren song, there is always the possibility of catching frogs that have jumped from the wheelbarrow. (...) To those who accept the Titanic and the siren song, I say good luck. And I'd also be tempted to say, fair winds... »
"These are not my values"
The former president of the Association of Mayors of France took the opportunity to recall his loyalty to the LR: "I will never be one of them. (...) If I had wanted to be part of that cohort of frogs that jumped out of the wheelbarrow and abandoned us, I would have done so on multiple occasions. But that's impossible for me. These are not my values, not my conception of the country. The proposed methods and remedies are not good. »
Read alsoLR shocked by Rachida Dati's poaching: "We are forced to fire her, but it weakens us even more"
"Nothing to add," Éric Ciotti, the president of the LR, simply reacted on X, thus underlining his support for the remarks of the mayor of Troyes. The mayor of Nice decided to expel the new minister from the party in the wake of the announcement of her appointment. "Rachida Dati has chosen to join the Government. It places itself outside our political family. She is no longer a Republican. We are in the opposition, so we draw the consequences of his choice with regret," he explained on X.