Brive-la-Gaillarde (AFP)

Claude Chirac is a candidate for the departmental elections in Corrèze, a family stronghold, in the canton of Brive 2 where his mother Bernadette was elected substitute in 2015, the daughter of the former President of the Republic Jacques Chirac announced on Tuesday.

Claude Chirac, 58, "thought a lot, weighed the responsibility that this implied".

"And then I said to myself that it was now, that it was a great chance for me to add so much meaning to life," she told an AFP correspondent.

The candidate who claims to have "never had any card, in any political party", is on the list led by the outgoing president of the departmental council, Pascal Coste (LR).

In an interview with the daily La montagne, the daughter of the former president specifies, about the choice of the canton to start her departmental commitment: "Starting mine here, it matters a lot to me. It makes sense".

Bernadette Chirac was elected substitute in 2015 for this canton of Brive 2. She had previously been elected continuously since 1979 in the canton including Sarran, where the family castle of Bity is located.

Before formalizing his candidacy, Claude Chirac explained that he spoke about it with his mother: "She knows that I introduce myself and I think she is quite happy. She gave me her blessing, which was very important to me. ", she told La Montagne.

This canton of Brive 2 "is also where the Firmin-Marbeau school is located, which my great-grandfather, Jacques' grandfather, directed".

"It is something that moves me enormously to commit myself to the precise place where my great-grandfather exercised this eminent responsibility. I am one of the people who think that in order to be able to move forward and project oneself, you have to know where we come from, lean on our history, "she added.

Not inserted, Claude Chirac claims on the other hand his membership in the Corrèze Demain association, which brings together in the department elected officials from the right and the center.

"I feel completely at ease within Corrèze Demain. It must be said, the union of the right and the center, it is the political groove of my father and my mother", underlines- she does.

© 2021 AFP