In the North, the LR activists met by Europe 1 are divided as to the candidacy of Valérie Pécresse.

Because if some say they are in favor of a primary on the right, others fear the return of internal divisions, nine months before the presidential election of 2022.

REPORTAGE

She put an end to the real-false suspense.

Thursday, in an interview with

Figaro

, LR Valérie Pécresse formalized her candidacy for the presidential election of 2022. A way for the president of the Ile-de-France region not to let her main competitor Xavier Bertrand occupy alone the field during the summer, while increasing the pressure on the latter for the organization of a primary on the right, to which the former minister of Nicolas Sarkozy says she is favorable.

But what do activists think of this news?

Those encountered by Europe 1 in the North are divided. 

"It is part of a collective approach"

In the headquarters of the Northern LR federation, three young activists are sitting on a sofa.

Questioned by Europe 1, they do not say they are surprised by the candidacy of Valérie Pécresse.

"I think it was an open secret," said Bastien Dauphin, responsible for young Republicans in the department.

"Valérie Pécresse had for many months expressed her intentions to run for president," he recalls, noting that "she is still part of a collective process". 

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Because, unlike Xavier Bertrand, Valérie Pécresse pleads for an open primary to designate the candidate for the right in 2022. A position shared by this activist.

"I think it's up to the activists to decide," she said.

"I would rather support a primary."

"We need a united straight line"

"I, on the contrary, am a supporter of the natural candidate," said another.

"And we saw it in 2017, it led to a lot of division, between the pro-Fillon, the pro-Sarkozy, the pro-Juppé ... That's not what I like."

With less than nine months of the presidential election, tensions must be avoided, insist these activists.

But the multiplication of candidates could complicate things.

"Having two candidates, it divides ... What we need today is a united right ... It is obvious that that is a problem."

Especially since we do not yet know how many other candidates could run for Les Républicains. 

https://www.europe1.fr/politique/candidature-de-pecresse-pour-2022-quelles-consequences-pour-la-droite-4059135