France: Xavier Bertrand takes another step towards a presidential candidacy
The president of the Hauts-de-France regional council and former French Minister of Health Xavier Bertrand, February 5, 2020. FRANCOIS GUILLOT / AFP
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In France, Xavier Bertrand, president of the Hauts-de-France region, said this Sunday, September 20, "determined" to run in 2022. The former minister of Nicolas Sarkozy has left Les Républicains (LR) but is sees it as a recourse for his political family.
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He does not say it formally but at the turn of a sentence during his interview on
Europe 1
, Xavier Bertrand clearly assumes his ambitions for 2022. “
If I am elected, there will be no question of going back and going back on 'abolition of the death penalty
,' he said.
"
If you are elected to what?
», Asks the journalist.
"
To the presidency of the Republic
", launches the president of Hauts-de-France.
"
So you are a candidate?"
», Insists the journalist.
“
Listen, you're asking me a question, let's not play around with words.
You ask me the question, you also invite me because you know my determination to be a candidate, so I will not hide behind my little finger,
”admits the former president.
"
Popular
"
canidate
and man of "
appeasement
"
Not quite a candidate, but already campaigning against Emmanuel Macron: Xavier Bertrand presents himself as a "
popular candidate
" against an outgoing president "
liberal Anglo-Saxon
", as the man of "
appeasement, reconciliation
" after a “
five-year period of turmoil
”.
If Xavier Bertrand says a little more about his intentions today, it is because he is on the front line in the
Bridgestone
case
.
The president of Hauts-de-France wants to make the rescue of the Béthune tire factory a marker of his action at the national level.
But before a candidacy in due and form,
Xavier Bertrand
has two challenges on his way: to mend with his political family and to be re-elected at the head of his region in March 2021.
► To read also: France / LR: Xavier Bertrand maintains the ambiguity on his return
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