When Rachida Dati was appointed Minister of Culture, Thursday January 11 around 7:30 p.m., Anne Hidalgo had just finished sending her wishes to the agents of the Parisian public health and safety services, in the large lounge of the Hôtel de city. After a moment of disbelief, she called Rémi Féraud, senator and president of the Paris socialist group, to try to analyze the situation, which is not simple.
Both wonder, first, about the extent of the risk taken by the executive in appointing Rachida Dati, indicted for corruption. They agree: the possibility exists of a “boomerang nomination” which can come back to them, why not, in the face. They are still thinking and agree that the so-called good move of the President of the Republic is ultimately a political error. “If Emmanuel Macron thinks that it is behind Rachida Dati that he can add up the votes Les Républicains [LR] and Renaissance, he is wrong, reports Mr. Féraud to World. She is the worst candidate for the progressive Macronist electorate. »
Does the departure of Rachida Dati, the mayor of Paris’ best enemy, relieve the municipal executive? “It’s neither good nor bad news…” tries Mr. Féraud, who interrupts: “Finally… Yes… It’s bad news for the right for the next municipal elections. » He seems hesitant, he is not the only one. Everyone is struggling to measure the consequences of the ministerial appointment of Rachida Dati on the political life of the capital less than three years before the municipal elections.
Exclusion procedure
The Parisian right was still stunned when Eric Ciotti, president of LR, stated, shortly after the announcement of the reshuffle, that it was indeed a very bad evening. Rachida Dati, LR heavyweight, president of the party’s national council, will be subject to an exclusion procedure.
Other very bad news: the existence of this personal deal made between Emmanuel Macron and Rachida Dati, according to which the latter accepts the post of minister in exchange for heading the list of an alliance between Renaissance and LR in the next municipal elections.
An alliance that suddenly became even more hypothetical than before the reshuffle. The new minister adds to the problem by expressing her wish to remain mayor of 7e district and president of the Parisian LR group.
Return to City Hall
Jean-Pierre Lecoq, mayor of 6e district, sees no problem with it. He was the first to welcome his appointment. Rachida Dati’s ultimate goal remains the town hall of Paris; she left Rue de Valois to better return to the Town Hall. Who will follow this strategy? David Alphand, vice-president of the LR group at the Paris Council and close to Mme Dati, make some calls “to search the hearts and souls of one another. For the moment, I don’t have the impression that there is a desire for a post-Dati period.”
You have 55% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.