Alexis Delafontaine 10:58 a.m., February 12, 2022
Valérie Pécresse met former President Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday at noon.
A few weeks before the first round of the presidential election, the former head of state has still not given his support to the Republican candidate.
Worse, some members think that Nicolas Sarkozy could support Emmanuel Macron.
The meeting was expected by LR supporters.
The former President of the Republic, Nicolas Sarkozy, received Valérie Pécresse yesterday at noon in his Paris offices in Miromesnil.
An interview "frank and warm, as between friends", underlines the presidential candidate LR but which in reality hides the start of a negotiation between the former head of state and the president of the Ile-de- France.
Credited with 15.5% of voting intentions according to the latest survey for Cevipof, the Jean-Jaurès Foundation and Le Monde, Valérie Pécresse needs the support of Nicolas Sarkozy to establish herself as the ideal candidate among the most popular LR voters. radicals.
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Valérie Pécresse in competition with Emmanuel Macron
But the support of the former president is expensive.
Because Nicolas Sarkozy complained that Valérie Pécresse would not recover enough of her balance sheet or her legacy during this campaign.
The former president wants to be "more than just a front support", says a relative.
Objective for Nicolas Sarkozy, to play his influence in the decisions of the candidate.
Recall that today the former president has still not decided to support Valérie Pécresse and refused to attend his meeting on Sunday.
And as the first round of the election approaches, more and more members of the Republicans suspect Nicolas Sarkozy of wanting to get closer to Emmanuel Macron and of betraying his political family.
Because in private, there is no shortage of praise for the president who is not yet a candidate.
His decision will come after Emmanuel Macron's candidacy announcement.