Paris (AFP)

Rachida Dati (LR) and Agnès Buzyn (LREM) clashed strongly on Wednesday around the call of Marine Le Pen to choose the candidate LR in Paris, before agreeing to criticize the outgoing PS mayor - and great favorite of the second municipal tower - Anne Hidalgo.

The candidate LREM, who had accused the reelected mayor of the 7th arrondissement of having "reconciled" Jean-Marie and Marine Le Pen around his program, maintained his remarks, and reproached Ms. Dati for having supported Sens commun (opposed to + marriage for all +) or to have made "unspeakable words" about migrants, during a first debate before the second round on Franceinfo, France 3 and France bleu Ile-de-France.

The RN president had affirmed on June 10 that if she was a voter in Paris, she would vote in the municipal elections for Rachida Dati against Anne Hidalgo, "the worst mayor that can exist".

"It is a serious attack on my honor and what I am," replied Ms. Dati, referring to the period when she "worked with Ms. Simone Veil". "A little decency," interrupted Ms. Buzyn, "you are obliged to quote a French icon to justify yourself". "Ms. Buzyn's values ​​are to lie to the French," replied Ms. Dati.

"I think it suits Ms. Dati not to talk about ecology," had also launched Agnès Buzyn a little earlier. Response: "a little respect, otherwise we can talk about the Covid and the health crisis".

The two candidates nevertheless met to criticize the outgoing mayor for having "concreted" Paris. "You are the mayor who has concreted the most and the environmentalists have swallowed their hats for a few places in an eligible position," said Ms. Dati, referring to the rallying of environmentalists to Anne Hidalgo.

"You practice a facade ecology," whispered Ms. Buzyn, criticizing the "giant flower pots that do not have a policy of revegetation".

"I would have loved that your allies did not oppose a strong measure such as the pedestrianization of the banks of the Seine," retorted Ms. Hidalgo, who also praised her record in terms of social housing. "Today, Paris is 80% of the middle and working classes".

Anne Hidalgo came first in the first round with 29.3% of the vote, ahead of Rachida dati (22.7%) and Agnès Buzyn (17.3%).

© 2020 AFP