The shock waves of the Russia-Ukraine conflict can be surprising, such as this conflict between LR and LREM around the case of François Fillon, member since December of the board of directors of a Russian petrochemical giant.
Since Sunday, between Les Républicains and the majority, we have been playing liar poker and three-cushion billiards. All against a background of escalation between Ukraine and Russia. It all starts this weekend with the Secretary of State for European Affairs, Clément Beaune, who accuses François Fillon of having “partner in crime” of Vladimir Putin. The reason ? The former candidate for the 2017 presidential election joined in December a seat on the board of directors of the Russian petrochemical giant Sibur.
A group notably controlled by Leonid Mikhelson, a Russian billionaire among the richest in the country, and Gennadi Timchenko, close to Putin. “When you are a former Prime Minister, and I have respect for the Prime Minister that François Fillon was, you dishonor yourself when you put yourself at the service of Russian financial interests close to the Russian State”Judge Clément Beaune.
Consequence: the Secretary of State for European Affairs asks Valérie Pécresse, Les Républicains presidential candidate, to “clarify” his position on this. “The Republicans are the party of François Fillon which is an accomplice of Putin”strikes the Secretary of State at the microphone of Radio J.
One piece in the machine
The case could have ended there. It was without counting a tweet which put a coin back in the machine. Published Thursday by the official account of the Russian government, it took a few days before being spotted. This is a photo where we see François Fillon seated opposite Alexander Novak, Russian Deputy Prime Minister. On the table are the two flags, Russian and French. It was enough to make the majority react, like the LREM MEP Nathalie Loiseau: “I don’t understand what a French flag is doing in this photo. François Fillon has made a choice, that of working for Russian interests. He does not represent France in any way. And it’s better that way.”
What to counter-attack LR. Bruno Retailleau, the president of the Les Républicains group in the Senate, lambasted this Wednesday at the microphone of France Info “poor attacks” from the government and believes that the Secretary of State is trying “to forget the shortcomings of Emmanuel Macron’s policy” in the geopolitical field. He adds : “François Fillon has not been Prime Minister for ten years, he is perfectly free to work in a company. He would never have joined the board of directors of a company if there was some kind of conflict with the higher interests of his country. And he reaffirms all his “trust” with regard to the former Prime Minister of Nicolas Sarkozy. As for Gérard Larcher, LR president of the Senate, he says he regrets on France 2 that François Fillon does “the object of so many attacks and ostracism from society”.
Pécresse demands more “dignity” from LREM
Like the Russian escalation this week with Putin’s decision to recognize the independence of two separatist provinces in eastern Ukraine, the game of ping-pong between LR and LREM has taken a new turn. On France Inter on Tuesday morning, it was Valérie Pécresse herself who replied to the Secretary of State: “François Fillon called Emmanuel Macron, who disavowed Clément Beaune on his remarks.” And throw that she “waits for more dignity” from the government. “Emmanuel Macron is in charge of the EU, it does not tolerate small political campaign policies”, did she say. François Fillon, also on public radio, simply assured that he would not “never divulge” his conversations with the President of the Republic.
The end of the story finally goes to Clément Beaune. At the microphone of France Inter, he assured this Wednesday that “no”, the President of the Republic had not pulled him up on this subject. The Secretary of State has understood that the best defense is attack. Especially in politics. So he says: “I believe that Valérie Pécresse has some difficulties with figures or facts. This is not reality.” Then : “When you are a candidate for the presidential election, I think there is a bit of Republican elegance that exists in not mentioning discussions by the President of the Republic or the former Prime Minister.” He “assumes” his words and does not want “to argue”. The circle is complete ?