• Given winner by a short head in the second round in the last poll, Thierry Mariani, RN candidate in Paca, was campaigning yesterday in the Var.

  • This former minister of Sarkozy, ex-member of the LR, is in the process of operating a junction between voters of the traditional right and of the National Rally (RN).

  • He expects to face a broad coalition in the second round.

Thierry Mariani, former minister of Nicolas Sarkozy and candidate of the RN and the Popular Right in the regional elections "considers everything", and especially victory. "I have never been beaten in local elections in this region", likes to recall the former mayor of Valréas (1989-2005), general councilor of Vaucluse (1988-2001) and regional councilor Paca (2004-2015) . Two weeks before the first round of regional elections, the electoral dynamic seems to plead for him, while the latest poll gives him the winner by a short head in the very probable hypothesis of a second round against Renaud Muselier, current president and candidate supported by LR. “We have taken twelve points since the start of the campaign,” smiles Thierry Mariani on the summer market of La Capte, at the end of the Hyères peninsula.

In the countryside in the Var this Friday, first in Toulon during a press conference setting out their economic recovery plan and then during a towing operation at the market, the RN troops and its head of the list were able to taste a mostly friendly welcome and a few courteous refusals.

Accompanied in particular by David Rachline, mayor of Fréjus and head of the list in the Var for the regional elections, Thierry Mariani distributes the right words among the customers.

Between a portion of pissaladière and a toast of red tapenade offered, the candidate RN does not get carried away.

"He was deputy, minister and comes from LR, for people, it is easier"

“I'm not one of those who say 'we're going to win', you have to be careful. I expect all the bad things, ”he warns. Reference to the somewhat deleterious turn that this campaign is taking between former fellow travelers, both former members of the LR and the UMP. Not enough to mar the enthusiasm of his staff. “There are some very interesting positive signals. Business leaders from large groups and major economic players are getting in touch with us, ”says the entourage of his campaign team. “And then, he was deputy, minister and comes from LR, for people, it is easier. It reassures them about the [RN] movement ”.

When asked what could make him lose, Thierry Mariani attacks a possible Republican roadblock. "I'm not sure that the voices add up in this case," he said. “I'm waiting to see what happens in the second round. But I hear that there could be a technical agreement - I love the expression - between Mr. Muselier's list and Mr. Félizia's list. So let's be clear, that means En Marche, Socialist, Republican, Communist, get together to keep their posts. I'm curious to see what the last loyal militants of Mr. Muselier will think ”. And to almost rejoice: “When there was the LR-En Marche merger, there were some leaks in the pipe. Without saying more, I have already received a few phone calls ”.


If the RN won in the region, which it seems to be able to do, Thierry Mariani's campaign could well remain as that of a blasting, that of the "republican dam".

Politics

Regional in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur: Thierry Mariani (RN) openly flirting with Renaud Muselier's voters after the alliance with LREM

Elections

Regional in Paca: Renaud Muselier files a complaint against Thierry Mariani, whom he accuses of spreading "fake news"

  • Marseilles

  • Renaud Muselier

  • National gathering

  • Nicolas sarkozy

  • The Republicans (France)

  • Thierry mariani

  • Regional elections

  • Toulon