On TF1, the leader of the sovereignist party Debout la France announced that he would be a candidate for the presidential election in 2022. Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, deputy for Essonne, had already presented himself in 2012 and in 2017, and more recently wore his party's colors in the European elections in May 2019.
The former ally of Marine Le Pen in the second round of the presidential election in 2017 Nicolas Dupont-Aignan announced on Saturday that he was a candidate for 2022 so that "the French have the choice" and escape a Macron-Le Pen duel.
"80% of the French do not want the Macron-Le Pen duel that we are in the process of knitting us. (...) I am a candidate now because I want to convince the French that there is no fatality and that we can live another life in France, "the president of Debout la France told TF1.
A third candidacy after the failures of 2012 and 2017
"I would so much like that the French believe again in their country" and "I want that in 2022 the French have the choice", he added, shortly before his speech of return in front of the militants at the Cirque d'Hiver in Paris.
Nicolas Dupont-Aignan was a candidate for the presidential elections of 2012 and 2017. The sovereignist had gathered 4.7% of the votes in the first round in 2017 before joining the president of the National Rally.
Nicolas Dupont-Aignan also reacted to the chopper attack on Friday in Paris, in front of the former Charlie Hebdo premises, judging that "our leaders do not understand that the Islamists have declared war on us".
"I will be a candidate because this resignation of our authorities for years is no longer possible" and "there is no reason to undergo that", added the deputy of Essonne.