Paris (AFP)
Exit the primary: The Republicans will nominate their presidential candidate by a vote of their only members, to the relief of the management who hopes to rally Xavier Bertrand to the process, with the aim of finally having a name on December 4.
LR members, called to vote electronically since Friday evening, have chosen for nearly six out of ten voters (58%) the option of a two-round congress.
The participation rate reached 50.28% of the votes during this congress.
"This is good news, it allows December 4 that the debate is closed" and that the right is "united behind a candidate for union", welcomed the party boss Christian Jacob, while for months the match is stalling: Xavier Bertrand remains in the lead on the right with 14-15% of the voting intentions in the polls, which however do not see it in the second round.
Saturday's vote specifically concerned a modification of the statutes, which since 2015 provided for a primary.
The experience left a bitter taste in 2016, eliminating Nicolas Sarkozy in the first round, and exacerbating tensions until the failure of François Fillon in the presidential election.
The Republicans finally chose to reserve the vote only to the members of LR "up to date of contribution 15 days before the poll", with a ballot in two rounds.
An expected choice, given the reluctance for the primary displayed by the activists in the vast survey published Wednesday by LR.
- "Good rhythm" -
This option could open the door to the participation of Xavier Bertrand, who would possibly be "ready to submit" to a congress even if he refuses a primary, Christian Jacob said Wednesday.
The president of Hauts-de-France is waiting to see the exact conditions to make a decision, it is said in his entourage.
The party will convene a strategic council on the organization of the congress on Tuesday.
The candidates will have to formulate their will to launch in writing, specified Christian Jacob.
"I'll be there! May the best one win!" Valérie Pécresse immediately tweeted.
"Faithful activist in this family (...) I will confidently solicit his support", assured Michel Barnier.
"On December 4, I will seek the support of my political family," added Eric Ciotti.
Is this deadline of December 4 too far away, when the other opposition parties have already launched their colt in the race?
"We are moving at the right pace" because "it takes time to collect all the sponsorships", assured the boss of LR.
Indeed, on the side of the candidates it will be necessary to recognize oneself "in the values of the right and the center", and to have collected "at least 250 sponsorships of elected officials" supported by LR.
A control body will be created to verify "the admissibility of applications" with regard in particular to "their compatibility" with these values.
While some see this as a barrier targeting Eric Zemmour, Christian Jacob repeated the party's position: "He is not part of our political family", and he "is on another line".
Still, the polemicist will appear on Sunday, like Eric Ciotti and Philippe Juvin, on a "day of conservatism", according to the organizers of the Conservative Movement (from Sens commun, born in 2013 from the mobilizations of "La Manif pour tous" against marriage homosexual.
Another innovation, LR will have a "prevention procedure" to be able to disconnect the candidate if he "cannot, for whatever reason", stay in the race.
The idea is to avoid a crash similar to that of François Fillon in 2017.
© 2021 AFP