Europe 1 with AFP 9:45 p.m., February 20, 2022
The mayor LR of Cannes, David Lisnard, announced Sunday evening to give his sponsorship to the candidate of rebellious France Jean-Luc Mélenchon "out of civic concern".
"I ardently fight his convictions, his ideas and his values, but he must be able to compete", indicated the president of the AMF who supports Valérie Pécresse.
The mayor LR of Cannes, David Lisnard, announced Sunday evening to give his sponsorship to the candidate of rebellious France Jean-Luc Mélenchon "out of civic concern" and "so that the demagogues do not play the victims".
"I have decided to sponsor the candidate from whom I am furthest removed, since I am ranked on the right, which is Jean-Luc Mélenchon. I ardently fight his convictions, his ideas and his values, but he must be able to compete", indicates elected official in a video filmed in his office at City Hall.
>> READ ALSO -
Why are the French not interested in the presidential election?
“Show that sponsorships are not worth support”
The leader of rebellious France has for the moment only 370 signatures out of 500 despite his 10% voting intentions.
President of the Association of Mayors of France (AMF), David Lisnard, who supports Valérie Pécresse, takes this initiative "in a personal capacity", "to show that sponsorships are not worth support".
"If Jean-Luc Mélenchon, or Marine Le Pen, who has a long-standing presence with a major political party and who is second in the polls, or Éric Zemmour who has a dynamic, could not present themselves, that would be a serious attack on democracy", he also justified, recalling that mayors, but also parliamentarians, regional or departmental councilors can give sponsorships.
If Valérie Pécresse, Emmanuel Macron or Anne Hidalgo already have their 500 sponsorships, others do not hide their difficulties as the March 4 deadline approaches such as Eric Zemmour, Marine Le Pen or Christiane Taubira (only 86 signatures).