Paris (AFP)

Third man in the race or "Joe Biden à la française"?

Michel Barnier is banking on his loyalty to LR to try to become, at 70, the right-wing presidential candidate.

Wednesday in front of the students of Assas, Thursday at the Cournon breeding fair (Puy-de-Dôme), Friday to meet LR activists from Saône-et-Loire, the former EU negotiator for Brexit carries an unchanging message of "respect" and "coming together".

"I want to be the president of the reconciliation of the French," he repeats, with the LR congress in his sights set on December 4 where the activists will choose their candidate.

In this race, his supporters assure that Michel Barnier, that "nobody saw it coming", could create a surprise.

"There is an interest which will turn to the enthusiasm around his candidacy", assures Daniel Fasquelle, treasurer of LR and support of the first hour.

In the entourage of Savoyard, we date this renewed interest of the return to school of young LR, at the beginning of September, then the parliamentary days of Nîmes.

"We feel a rise in power among parliamentarians", assures the deputy of Paris Brigitte Kuster.

A first list of 52 parliamentarians supporting him was unveiled last week.

"He's a great man," said the influential president of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region Laurent Wauquiez in mid-September, whose support is invaluable at LR.

Michel Barnier at the platform during the parliamentary days of LR on September 9, 2021 in Nîmes Pascal GUYOT AFP / Archives

But in the polls, Michel Barnier still appears as "third man", with a serious delay: Harris Interactive credited him Wednesday with only 7% in the first round (in the event of a Zemmour candidacy), behind Xavier Bertrand (13 %) and Valérie Pécresse (11%).

“I have room for improvement,” he admits, “and I am gradually filling them”.

- "Social anger" -

It seems in particular to have the favors of LR members who will be the only ones to choose the candidate.

We welcome, in his camp, a recent Odoxa poll giving him ten more favorable opinion points among right-wing supporters in two months.

As he repeats over and over again, Michel Barnier has never left LR - unlike Xavier Bertrand and Valérie Pécresse.

"He can win thanks to his loyalty," said a deputy.

Especially since "it's everything except Bertrand in the federations", adds another.

Beyond loyalty "he embodies a lot in our family", on the side of the "social right, European", explains an executive of LR who quotes "the method marked by dialogue, rigor, sobriety" of those who are described as "patriotic and European".

Michel Barnier on October 7, 2021 at the Cournon-d'Auvergne breeding fair, in Puy-de-Dôme Thierry ZOCCOLAN AFP

In the Pécresse camp, the story is nuanced.

The activists "appreciate Barnier but when it comes to nominating the candidate to hit Macron, they say to themselves that there is a small difference in personality and spirit", affirms a support.

"He has high vision, he's smart. But can he win against Macron?"

wonders an elected pro-Bertrand, according to whom "the problem is that it is the less good candidate who is likely to leave".

Because Michel Barnier is 70 years old and has a long political career behind him, which began as elected in 1973.

Some compare him to US President Joe Biden, 78.

"I can recognize myself in his perseverance and tenacity, however I am much younger than him", replies, fearlessly, the former minister.

"His stature, his wisdom, are in fact assets", assures Brigitte Kuster who praises an "anti-Macron".

In this race for the nomination, Michel Barnier also plays on his international stature, moving abroad, punctuating his interviews with expressions in English and recalling, book of memories in hand, his successful experience as a Brexit negotiator.

Hence the amazement aroused by his proposals for a referendum on immigration and questioning of the European Court of Justice in the name of "legal sovereignty".

"I have no lesson in European commitment to receive," replies the former European commissioner in the face of the deluge of denial of criticism.

Because he is convinced of it: we must listen to the "social anger" that is brewing, and "if we do not change anything, there will be other Brexits".

© 2021 AFP