With such a media offensive, success in bookstores should once again be there.
Since he resigned with a crash his post of Chief of Staff of the Armies in July 2017, a few days after being sharply criticized by Emmanuel Macron for complaining about the decrease in his budget, General Pierre de Villiers has turned into a publishing phenomenon.
His first book, "Servir", released in 2017, has sold more than 130,000 copies.
The second, "What is a chef?", Published in 2018, was even more successful, with more than 140,000 copies sold.
As for the very last, "The balance is a courage", available since October 14, the first sales announce a new bestseller.
The former military leader is now familiar with the promotion of his writings.
He multiplies the interviews and has for several weeks regularly the headlines of the press, like the front page of the Parisian, Sunday, December 6, which was devoted to him.
But unlike what had been observed during the publication of his first two books, the content of his last book and the current media offensive have a strong political emphasis.
>> To review: "French Army: the first hitch of Emmanuel Macron?"
Management of the Covid-19 pandemic, bill on separatism, police violence: in his interview with Le Parisien, Pierre de Villiers evokes many topical subjects and shares his "fear" of a possible "civil war" in France.
"I am not making these books with a view to any political mandate," he replies however when asked about the possibility of a future engagement.
Before adding, as if to let the ambiguity hover: "I visibly arouse a certain number of hopes. It is true that my approach is authentic."
A speech that speaks to the right-wing electorate
Thus, 20% of the French would be ready to vote for the former chief of staff of the armed forces if he were a candidate for the presidential election of 2022, according to a study carried out by Ifop and published in Current values at the end of November. .
A figure that rises to 29% among those who voted Marine Le Pen in 2017 and up to 41% among the voters of François Fillon.
"The situation is such that one can imagine that an outbreak of populism in France would see it be propelled to power in an election", judges the historian Eric Deroo, author of the documentary "The Republic and its generals", interviewed by L 'Opinion.
"It is not the personality of Pierre de Villiers that counts, but the fact that he is general. If it was not him, it could be someone else. The words of politicians are today so demonetized that that of the representatives of the Grande muette [nickname of the French army, editor's note] appears, paradoxically, more serious and more reliable. "
>> To read: "Presidential 2022: Xavier Bertrand, a candidate to be taken seriously?"
No wonder, in this context, that such an authority figure capable of capturing the attention of the right-wing electorate arouses a lot of interest.
"It is a media personality who has emerged and who carries our values," admits Annie Genevard, vice-president of the National Assembly and president of the National Council of the Les Républicains (LR) party, contacted by France 24. "The order, authority, the defense of the fatherland, the greatness of France, humanism: his speech is fairly fair and speaks to part of our electorate, "she adds.
So many elected LRs have already met him.
But the younger brother of the former presidential candidate, Philippe de Villiers, for the moment closes the door to any membership.
"I really have no reason to join a party, or to create one," he assures the Parisian.
"There is no strong marker, it is a lukewarm water tap
!"
On the side of the National Rally (RN), we see in the media and political agitation around General Pierre de Villiers "a kind of mirage".
"As much his brother is sparkling and original, as Pierre de Villiers is very conformist. There is no strong marker, it is a tap of lukewarm water!", Judge Philippe Olivier, adviser and brother-in-law of Marine Le Pen, contacted by France 24. "I did not hear him say that it was necessary to stop immigration, to get out of the Europeanist straitjacket or to get out of NATO. I hear him at his brother's place, but not at his place" , he insists, as if to underline the gulf that separates the general from the RN and, between the lines, the lack of concern about a possible candidacy.
On the other hand, the Élysée is closely monitoring the rise of the phenomenon.
Pierre de Villiers ensures that he has no bitterness three years after his eventful departure from the army.
On the other hand, the findings he makes are very critical of Emmanuel Macron's action.
"According to an old military principle, you do not change your strategy in the face of the enemy in the course of action. You still have to have a strategy. The phrase I hear the most is: 'We are walking on the road. head, my general. The authority of the leaders and the confidence in them decrease for a long time, "he asserts in Le Parisien about the management of the health crisis.
But for now, there is no clear indication that a formal entry into politics is in preparation.
The main interested party only claims to want to "contribute to strategic thinking" and "inspire leaders".
We will therefore have to wait a few more months before knowing what General Pierre de Villiers is really preparing for 2022.
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