Marseilles (AFP)

Fifteen candidates from the presidential majority will be present on the list led by Renaud Muselier (LR) in the next regional elections in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, the outgoing president of the region announced on Friday during a press point.

Mr. Muselier also criticized certain members of the Republicans (LR) opposed to the opening of his list who, according to him, "question the red line + no compromise with the National Front +" (now National Assembly) .

"My political family must settle this debate which is eating away at it rather than sending me fatwas by press release," he added.

"It will be the list + Our Region first +, the list of Republicans, of the right, of the center and of the Democrats", launched the former Secretary of State of Jacques Chirac, explaining that "for the first time in the 'History of the region, 10 political tendencies will be represented, from the right to reasonable environmentalists.

"Of the 135 names on the list, there will be 15 people from the presidential majority, including the four elected outgoing Modem, the others all being local elected," said Mr. Muselier, also reporting members of the Republic in walk (seven) and Agir, also a partner of the majority.

Among the majority candidates are Bertrand Mas-Fraissinet, LREM referent of Bouches-du-Rhône, and Graig Monetti, chief of staff of the Minister of Higher Education Frédérique Vidal, but not in an eligible position.

On the other hand, the Secretary of State for the disabled Sophie Cluzel, ex-leader of LREM for the regional ones, does not appear there.

"She was able to show responsibility," explained Mr. Muselier.

At the beginning of May, the hand extended by the latter to the presidential majority, taken up again by Prime Minister Jean Castex who had announced the withdrawal of the Cluzel list by evoking a "political recomposition", had created a psychodrama at Les Républicains.

After fierce debates, the party had finally decided to maintain its support for Renaud Muselier on the condition that he gave up accepting majority candidates.

Asked by AFP about the risk of withdrawing LR support after the presentation of his list, Renaud Muselier blurted out: "They will do what they have to do. Me, I have my list and it is solid Whatever their color, their membership, they are from here, they are local elected officials.

He recalled that "the backbone" of his list was made up of The Republicans.

The boss of senators LR Bruno Retailleau and the deputy LR Eric Ciotti have already asked their party to withdraw its support for Mr. Muselier

The latter condemned those who want to make regional "a step towards the presidential election".

“Paris cannot decide everything,” he said.

Clearly oriented towards local life, the list includes 19 presidents of metropolitan areas and inter-municipal authorities and 43 mayors, including 22 of municipalities with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants.

On the other hand, no parliamentarian.

Neither the outgoing LR deputy Julien Aubert (Vaucluse), nor the outgoing senator Philippe Tabarot (Alpes-Maritime), vice-president of the Region in charge of Transport, appear there.

Renaud Muselier spoke alongside five of the six departmental leaders, the sixth, Christian Estrosi (Alpes-Maritime) who slammed the door of the Republicans, speaking in video transmission.

The other leading figures are François de Canson (LR), president of the regional tourism committee for the Var list, which also includes the mayor of Toulon who resigned from LR Hubert Falco.

The other heads of the list are Bénédicte Martin (LR), for Vaucluse, Chantal Eymeoud (centrist) for Hautes-Alpes and David Gehant (LR) for Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.

© 2021 AFP