Paris (AFP)
Sylvain Maillard, LREM deputy from Paris and spokesman for the candidate invested Benjamin Griveaux, assured Friday that he believes neither a candidacy of his rival Cédric Villani, nor to "a plan B", which could be called Edouard Philippe .
Villani has so far refused to publicly support the former government spokesman, who was chosen in early July by the presidential party's nomination committee, returning his decision to the start of the new term. thus leaving doubt about a possible dissenting candidacy.
Asked about such a candidacy on LCI, Mr. Maillard replied: "I do not believe it, Villani has his place with us", emphasizing that "he is a Walker like us, he is part of our family, he is elected deputy of En marche (de l'Essonne) ".
"I understand his disappointment, because he is fully invested and he is someone of quality, who has a lot of talent, it is difficult also, when one is fully invested, of lose, but the reality is that he has his place in our team with Benjamin Griveaux, "he added.
"I think that Plan B is a fantasy that has always existed everywhere", also reacted the MP for Paris about a possible candidacy of Edouard Philippe.
"There is a candidate who is the candidate who gathers the most, hammered Mr. Maillard.The reality is that elected officials and executives in Paris are overwhelmingly, if not almost unanimously, behind Benjamin Griveaux and since weeks".
"Of course" it will go to the end, assured the spokesman.
"Our opponent is not at home, he is at the city hall of Paris," he said targeting the socialist mayor Anne Hidalgo, stressing the "need for alternation" of Parisians.
© 2019 AFP