Paris (AFP)

Concertation: it was the slogan of the Republicans Saturday in Paris, where the National Council has given the floor to his delegates, often disoriented by the threat LREM or the "union of rights" that shake the party to four months of municipal.

At the party headquarters where the 300 councilors were gathered, an "old activist" attacked the ball debate in the lead, on the explosive theme of the "union of the rights". Speaking deprecating whispers in the room, she said not to "appreciate at all the exclusion procedure" against Erik Tegnér, a young activist close Marion Maréchal, former member of the Front National and niece of Marine Le Pen.

The subject poisons LR, while in Sète, the resigning boss of the federation, Sébastien Pacull, has just announced that he will lead a list of "union of rights" supported by the National Rally.

"The courage today is not to sell to the highest bidder, nor to the macronie nor Marion Maréchal," replied the secretary general Aurélien Pradié, for whom "the right does not have to choose between being the back shop of the macronie or the back shop of the far right ".

The Republicans held their first "national council" (the equivalent of the parliament) since the election in October of Christian Jacob, who has begun to rebuild the base party heir to a right yesterday hegemony, but fallen to 8 , 5% in the European May.

"When we have lost, we are humble, we have the courage and honor to return to the field," Jacob said in the preamble.

But "we are not going to lower our heads, shave the walls, curl up," he added, calling for "opening the doors and windows" with "background work" to become "credible, audible" again in order to "rebuild an alternation project".

LR is committed to dialogue with 12 thematic forums, which will run from January until a "congress of ideas" scheduled for early July.

State authority, job creation, global warming or social lift: "all our fundamentals, but also the major issues that emerge today" will be addressed, summarized Annie Genevard, President of the Council.

- "Identity card of the right" -

"We do not need to be left to talk about culture or solidarity, nor to be at the RN to talk about immigration or secularism," insisted the leader of the parliamentary group Damien Abad.

LR also wants to build a self-sustaining "big youth movement" to meet in September 2020.

In a party in constant weakening since the defeat of Nicolas Sarkozy in 2012, Mr. Jacob must also fight against the temptation of dissent.

In Marseille, Bruno Gilles, president of the departmental federation, refused to throw in the towel after LR entrusted his investiture to his rival, and in Paris the mayor LR of the seventeenth Geoffroy Boulard just launched his campaign without allusion to any party .

Faced with lost sheep, "we will put hay in the rack, it can make them come back," said Mr. Jacob, who is a breeder.

But how to cope with The Republic on the move, which grips the electorate? "It is essential that our movement find a marker," said a worried delegate.

"We have nothing to do with Emmanuel Macron", decided the number 2 of the party, Guillaume Peltier, for whom it is necessary to "redefine the identity card of the French right".

The head of state has certainly been able to hold a speech that can "resonate rather gently in the ear of our readers right," acknowledged Mr. Jacob. But it is also that of "false promises", "errors" and the inability to reform, "he added.

At four months of municipal, LR wants to believe in his chances: "we must win and we will win," said Eric Ciotti.

Beyond this, the convalescent right does not project yet. But Mr. Jacob has spared Valerie Pécresse, "with whom we are able to be able to end up on certain fights". And Mr. Ciotti greeted "with great friendship" François Baroin, present in the room, telling him "our confidence and also our hope".

© 2019 AFP