Paris (AFP)
The former ally of Marine Le Pen in the second round of the presidential election in 2017 Nicolas Dupont-Aignan called Monday for the organization in 2021 of a "great primary" in the camp of the conservative, sovereignist and extreme right right for the presidential election of 2022.
"Today I appeal to all political figures from the republican and patriotic opposition to organize a major primary for France in 2021", said the president of Debout la France during his vows to the press.
The former ally of Marine Le Pen invites to this primary the president of the National Rally, the supporters of a departure from France from the European Union Florian Philippot and François Asselineau, and the Republicans who "will never join Emmanuel Macron", such as the LR deputies Julien Aubert and Guillaume Larrivé and the boss of the LR group in the Senate Bruno Retailleau.
He also invited personalities from civil society such as the polemicist Éric Zemmour, close to the former FN deputy (now RN) Marion Maréchal, General Pierre de Villiers, former chief of staff, and the journalist Natacha Polony.
"Refusing such a step would amount to dividing the Republicans and the patriots. (...) Let's block to win against Emmanuel Macron," insisted Mr. Dupont-Aignan, who had gathered 4.7% of the votes in the first round in 2017 before rallying to Mrs. Le Pen, praising a primary "to guarantee the union from the first round and avoid the dispersion of votes".
"No one will be able to win alone", hammered the deputy of Essonne, for whom "the only repetition of the duel of 2017" between Mrs. Le Pen and Mr. Macron "would only favor the re-election of Emmanuel Macron".
The initiative of Mr. Dupont-Aignan was welcomed by Florian Philippot, president of Les Patriotes. "I support this interesting initiative to allow a real change in the face of Macron! It would also be an opportunity for a real useful debate between sovereignists. France needs a rally," he wrote on Twitter.
Usually opposed to the principle of a primary, Mr. Dupont-Aignan explained that he had "changed his mind" after noting in 2017 "that the first laps no longer existed". "You have to rely on the people and the primary allows you to rely on the people".
Standing France, which planned to announce this primary in April, anticipated its launch so as not to "allow a kidnapping of the presidential to take hold," argued the former presidential candidate of 2012 and 2017.
Marine Le Pen confirmed Thursday her candidacy for 2022, which has yet to be validated by her party's congress next year.
Mr. Dupont-Aignan did not wish "to enter into a polemical dialogue with Marine Le Pen or (to start) the mutual confidence which can exist" between them, but warned that he did not want either "of precipitation".
"No Pavlovian reflex + I am a candidate, I am a candidate +. Let’s take the time to open our minds, to confront ideas", "we have to open the windows or it will smell stale," he said.
© 2020 AFP