Paris (AFP)
Despite a strong warning Monday night by Emmanuel Macron, the LREM dissident candidate to the mayor of Paris Cédric Villani assured that he was "determined to go all the way".
During a meeting with the majority parliamentarians and members of the government, the president targeted Mr. Villani without quoting him: "When I hear in our political party some who say that our investiture commission is this and that, they forget who made them, "he said, according to reports. Mr. Villani, who wants to compete while Benjamin Griveaux was invested by LREM, was present in the audience.
"What is deadly in politics is division," added the head of state, who also called for "maximum collective intelligence."
"We have to spend this moment (municipal, ed), this test of solidity, do not forget the goodwill.We may not be agreed, but we go together," hammered Mr. Macron, according to participants.
Coming out of the reception, Villani told the press that he "never enter the division". "My intention is not to attack this or that, my intention is to gather and continue my approach, I went to meet, to listen".
"Tonight I had the opportunity to speak with many people but the president was very busy," continued the MP.
"I am determined to go all the way, I have not asked to leave the Republic on the move, it is a freedom initiative that is above all in the service of Parisians. It's not a device, I'm not at war with anyone, "Villani said.
In front of the press shortly after, her colleague MEP Aurore Bergé, spokesperson of LREM, underlined that "today we have a major expiry in Paris, we have a candidate named Benjamin Griveaux. was clear about the risk that division would make us run. "
© 2019 AFP