Europe 1 with AFP 5:15 p.m., February 16, 2022

On Tuesday, Jean-Christophe Lagarde, the president of the UDI, called on the Republican candidate for the Elysée Valérie Pécresse, whom he supports, to "get out of the themes of the far right" after his first major campaign meeting. Sunday which has been criticized both in form and substance.

The president of the UDI Jean-Christophe Lagarde on Tuesday called on the LR candidate for the Elysée Valérie Pécresse, whom he supports, to "get out of the themes of the far right" after his first major campaign meeting on Sunday which was criticized both in form and substance.

There is "no fatality, neither to the great downgrading, nor to the great replacement", had notably affirmed the candidate for the Zenith in Paris.

>> READ ALSO

- Presidential: what consequences in the ranks of LR after the Pécresse meeting?

"A mistake to take the words of the opponent"

Jean-Christophe Lagarde "refuses the ridiculous trial in racism or racialism against Valérie Pécresse" who "has always fought racism, wokism and even anti-Semitism".

But for this former presidential candidate who this time joined Valérie Pécresse, "it is always a mistake to go and take the words of his opponents".

He also regretted "deeply the expression + French paper + which was the expression of Jean-Marie Le Pen".

"These words are a trap set by the far right" and it must "get out of these themes which were those of the primary" of the right, called this centrist during a press conference at the 'Assembly.

And to press: "To continue like that would be a strategic error".

"Purchasing power, industry, Europe, real solidarity: this is what we expect the right and the center", pleaded the one who is also president of the UDI deputies.

A trial "neither credible nor real"

The leader of the LR deputies Damien Abad also judged that "putting Valérie Pécresse on trial for flirting with the far right is neither credible nor real".

He asked his group on Tuesday morning to "close ranks", even if "the moment of Sunday did not live up to all expectations for some".

It is necessary, according to the elected representative of Ain, "that all the deputies can make the presidential campaign" by "territorial capillarity".

This "can bring us the 300 to 500,000 votes we will need to reach the second round", which promises to be tight.

In a Harris Interactive poll for Challenges published on Tuesday, Eric Zemmour (14.5%) passes very slightly ahead of Valérie Pécresse, who loses 1 point to 14%, to take third place behind Emmanuel Macron, far ahead, and Marine Le Pen.