Paris (AFP)
Former EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier told La Croix on Thursday that he intends to "take (his) part" in the political debate in the run-up to the 2022 presidential election, and pleads for "a center right solid and united ".
"We must play collectively and I will organize myself with all the people who want to help me - and there are enough of them - to take my part in the political debate", affirmed Mr. Barnier, still a member of LR, on a daily basis. posted on Thursday.
The former minister of Nicolas Sarkozy and Jacques Chirac assured not to be "in a people's game".
But "we need a united and solid right center in France, for the balance of the country," he added.
The idea of a return of Mr. Barnier on the French political scene arose a few weeks ago, and according to an Ifop poll published Wednesday, 15% of the French believe that he would be a "good candidate" for the right in second round, behind Xavier Bertrand (27%) and Valérie Pécresse (17%) but ahead of Bruno Retailleau (6%).
Mr. Barnier explained that he "kept a lot of contact with parliamentarians and local elected officials" and assured: "Beyond my own political family, I have a lot of friends who call me, and whom I see".
"I will organize myself to have the means to work, with a small team," he said.
The Covid crisis, which causes "a lot of suffering" and "worsens injustices", will have "obviously political consequences", according to him.
But Mr Barnier warned against "unnecessary polemics" believing that "we must be fair with the current power".
"The risk for the country of being fractured has never been so serious" and "this is one of the reasons why I want to take my part in this public debate," he added.
© 2021 AFP