Xavier Bertrand is no longer making a secret of his desire to be the candidate for the 2022 presidential election. He recalled this during his speech on Sunday in the "Grand Rendez-vous" on Europe 1. Is he already a threat to the executive?

Guest of the

Grand Rendez-vous

on Europe 1, Xavier Bertrand, the president of the Hauts-de-France region, was questioned on the issue of the death penalty.

"If I am elected, there will be no question of reconsidering the abolition of the death penalty", he replied.

Elected to what?

"As President of the Republic (…) you know my determination to be a candidate."

So, can Xavier Bertrand be a threat for Emmanuel Macron in 2022?

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"I am more prepared than a few months ago and not yet as much as in 20 months", proclaimed Xavier Bertrand without "hiding behind [his] little finger" as to his presidential will.

And the executive is already scrutinizing the potential candidate.

The government is watching this emerging candidacy very carefully because it has realized that the strategy which consisted of pointing the finger at Xavier Bertrand to trigger internal dissension within the Republicans is not the right one.

Jean Castex receives Xavier Bertrand on Monday

The president of the Hauts-de-France region settles down as being a potential candidate and the executive is now considering how to handle the "Bertrand case".

Proof of this is: Xavier Bertrand will be received Monday by the head of government, Jean Castex.

The two men know each other.

Jean Castex was director of Xavier Bertrand's cabinet in 2006 and 2007, when the latter was Minister of Health.

This potential candidacy emerges at a time when The Republicans want to turn to the one who shows the most desire, determination.

However, the announcement of the renunciation of François Baroin, a credible candidate not long ago, is no longer in doubt.

LR seems to believe, finally, in the principle that it is the one who wants the most who will win the internal balance of power in the party.

Xavier Bertand is therefore entering a new period of his political career, especially since he has shown that he is capable of facing Emmanuel Macron.

He must now prove that he can bring his political family together.