The National Council of Republicans was held this Saturday, May 7, at the party headquarters in the presence of 300 people. The opportunity for the leaders to decide on the strategy before the legislative election, which is essential for their survival.
Under pressure after the debacle of the presidential election, LR officials still want to believe it. The party executives, Xavier Bertrand, Christian Jacob, Gérard Larcher, Laurent Wauquiez, François-Xavier Bellamy, Bruno Retailleau, Éric Ciotti or even Rachida Dati met during a national council which was held behind closed doors.
Daniel Fasquelle, historical treasurer of the party, who has become Macron-compatible was also present. He who has repeatedly dithered between an independent line and a Macron-compatible line slipped that “obviously” he was staying at LR, that “there is no question of changing parties” and that the party will fight in “nine of the twelve constituencies of Pas-de-Calais.” However, he tempered his attachment to the LRs by saying, once again, that they “must not be in systematic opposition to the government.” But if the line, according to the majority of LR executives, remains independent during the legislative elections, the battle is far from won. Of the 101 outgoing, electoral experts estimate that they could be two to three times less in the future assembly…
Laurent Wauquiez compares Macron to Charles VI the madman
The meeting saw Gérard Larcher applaud Bruno Retailleau and François-Xavier Bellamy, “a nice score on the applause meter” according to a source present. The President of the Senate also explained to his flock that “nothing is decided […] each circo won is a chance for France” and added that there is “a need to build a republican opposition.” The senator from Yvelines, present as the second character of the State two hours earlier at the investiture of the President of the Republic did not spare the latter. He castigated his “at the same time imagined in 2017 to make the divisions disappear” which “in reality ends in a form of democratic decomposition.”
Laurent Wauquiez meanwhile evoked “a founding ordeal. Then he took out the sulfateuse and compared the current dealings of a few LRs with the majority: “opportunists under Charles VI the madman.” Outgoing deputies, like Robin Reda (7th constituency of Essonne), could, for their part, be invested under the colors of the presidential majority. Other outgoing LR deputies will have no Renaissanc opponents, such as Damien Abad in the constituency of Ain.
Party president Christian Jacob, during the post-meeting press conference, explained that the agreement was “closed with the partners of the UDI and the New Center.” The formation will fight in 543 constituencies, or 94% of the territory under the LR-UDI-NC banner: “There will be 457 LR candidates, 59 UDI, 26 New Center and 1 Freedom and Territory”.
He declared that each candidate under this banner will receive “a loan of 5000 euros” and added that “the charter of clarity and independence of the Republicans was voted unanimously.” About the number of LR deputies called “Macron-compatible”, he criticized the “sad Solère who spends a lot of time with journalists” and spoke of “permanent brainwashing.”