French presidential 2022: Valérie Pécresse tries to exist behind Xavier Bertrand
Audio 01:15
The presidential candidate Valérie Pécresse, during the parliamentary days of the Les Républicains party, in Nîmes on September 9, 2021. AFP - PASCAL GUYOT
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
In the race for the presidential candidacy on the right, Valérie Pécresse has not made up for lost time vis-à-vis Xavier Bertrand.
She was counting on the first edition of the political program "Elysée 2022" to boost her campaign.
But this Thursday evening, September 23, his duel with the Minister of the Interior Gerald Darmanin had as a direct competitor another televised game, that between the leader of the rebellious Jean-Luc Mélenchon and the far-right polemicist Éric Zemmour.
The president of the Île-de-France region and former minister still tried to make herself known to the French.
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Split the armor and show yourself as it is.
It was one of Valérie Pécresse's goals.
So she played on the sensitive chord by talking about her family and she defended the exercise of power in women.
“
Women can embody leadership,
” she said.
And it works !
We had twenty-seven presidents of the Republic, men.
And Angela Merkel is consultation, Margaret Thatcher is firmness.
Because I think you have to know how to decide.
You have to know how to hold on.
And me, when I do, I hold on!
"
Behind Xavier Bertrand in the polls, she assumes her position of challenger in the race for the nomination on the right: “
First, there is a match and no one imagined that there could be a match before I presented my candidacy this summer.
I know that today
I can win this game
.
"
►
To read also: Presidential election of 2022: for her return to school, Valérie Pécresse wants to score points on the right
"Islamism, totalitarianism of the 21st century"
But to wear which right?
Faced with the Minister of the Interior Gerald Darmanin, former of the Republicans party today in Macronie, it is difficult to mark its difference.
And to force the line on immigration and separatism: "
We have uncontrolled immigration, and in addition, on top of that, we have failed integration.
"
“
Me, Madame Pécresse…
”, begins Gérald Darmanin.
But she cuts it off: “
We do not confuse Islam and Islamism.
This is the totalitarianism of the 21st century, Mr. Darmanin.
""
You did not have a word for our Muslim compatriots, it's a shame,
"retorts the minister.
To convince, Valérie Pécresse draws on her experience at the head of the Île-de-France region.
But if she wants to close the gap in the polls, she will have to go beyond.
►
To read also: Presidential in France: Valérie Pécresse presents herself as a unifier in Brittany
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Presidential France 2022