The National Rally presidential candidate Marine Le Pen on Monday asked her spokesperson Nicolas Bay to “explain himself clearly” on his position in the campaign, in particular vis-à-vis Éric Zemmour, lambasting in passing those who live “in lies, perjury”. Marine Le Pen, who has had to face several defections in recent weeks for the benefit of the polemicist, has virulently pinpointed the defectors who claim certain “values”. “We cannot defend eternal France by being in a lie, perjury, as those who for weeks have been preparing their departure without having the loyalty to warn”, she gritted at the microphone of Laurence Ferrari .
“My father is a Frenchman, therefore he is attached to honour, uprightness, frankness”, enumerated Marine Le Pen, candidate of the Rassemblement national in the presidential election, adding that people who have already joined Éric Zemmour “does not show any of these qualities”. Asked about the position of RN MEP Nicolas Bay concerning Éric Zemmour, Marine Le Pen believes “it is not clear to anyone”. “I’m very optimistic by nature, so I want Nicolas to stay in the countryside,” she said in punchline, while the MEP is also the spokesperson for his campaign. “I trusted him, I hope not to have to regret it,” insisted the candidate.
An “unbearable” situation for Marine Le Pen
This in-between is “unbearable” for the candidate, who assures that “it’s dishonor to do that”. “The lie which consists in making people believe that we are a team, in order to actually sabotage it from the inside and play for the opposing team, that disgusts the French”, according to the candidate.
The tension rose a notch at the RN last weekend after a televised duplex on Saturday during which Nicolas Bay was hesitant. If the MEP assured Sunday to support “unambiguously” the candidate of the RN, he also sowed doubt by launching: “I do not have to justify myself on what I will do in a month, six months or a year” and “I do not consider Éric Zemmour to be an enemy”.
The important support of his father
In punch line, Marine Le Pen returned to the case of an RN regional councilor from PACA, Sophie Grech, who will give her support to Éric Zemmour, “even though she knows that we do not have the sponsorships (…) and that this is a matter of very serious concern to us”. “I find it once again absolutely unworthy,” she stormed.
Marine Le Pen was also delighted with the support provided by her father. “I think he made a political analysis concluding that I am and I will remain the best placed to defend the national camp and even that I have the possibility of winning”, she underlined. About her niece Marion Maréchal, who hesitates to give her support, Ms Le Pen admitted that “political differences can exist. But the way of expressing them counts. The way of doing things, of preventing, the way of Leaving counts. It marks who you are,” said the candidate.