Alexandre Chauveau, edited by Manon Fossat 07:19, November 08, 2021

Mark your difference without compromising the unity of movement. The five candidates for the LR nomination for the presidential election are holding the first of their four televised debates this Monday evening. Xavier Bertrand, Valérie Pécresse, Michel Barnier, Eric Ciotti and Philippe Juvin will try to seduce the activists who will make their choice from December 1 to 4 during the Party Congress.

The first televised debate between the Republican candidates takes place this Monday evening on LCI.

Xavier Bertrand, Valérie Pécresse, Michel Barnier, Eric Ciotti and Philippe Juvin will try to stand out during a series of four such exercises throughout the month of November.

Their objective: to seduce the activists who will make their choice from December 1 to 4 during the Party Congress, and beyond to convince the French to carry the finalist to the second round and, supreme objective, to the Elysee Palace in April 2022. The four contenders are going to have to stand out therefore, without attacking their opponents.

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Four themes for two hours of debate

Purchasing power, immigration, security and international: four themes and two hours of debate, this is the program of the five contenders who have been preparing all weekend. And the one who expects the most from this first evening is Valérie Pécresse. The candidate has a solid team and dreams of creating a surprise, like François Fillon in the 2016 primary. "She has everything to gain", summarizes a relative. For that, it counts on a program which mixes economic liberalism and firmness on the regal level.

Like her, Xavier Bertrand now takes on the challenger costume and also plays an important card this Monday evening.

His ambition: to win back the activists, some of whom are still angry with him for having left the party in 2017. The president of Hauts-de-France has appeared more humble in recent days, without losing his determination.

Barnier, novice in the field

As for Michel Barnier, another candidate for the nomination, the chosen strategy is opposed.

The latter will try to keep his position of favorite in an exercise that he probably knows less than his competitors.

The former European Commissioner worked a good part of the weekend with his advisers in order to become more efficient in his speeches.

For him, it will be a question of providing short answers and one to two ideas maximum per topic.

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Finally, the debate will be an opportunity for Eric Ciotti and Philippe Juvin to put forward ideas on their favorite subjects, one on immigration, the other on health.