"We know very well that it will be much more difficult economically, we know that we will have much higher inflation, interest rates which will return, a considerable public debt", adds the ex-president of the Republic which, by the way, refutes the accusations against Emmanuel Macron of a skipping campaign.
"No one had imagined when setting these election dates that it would be in a context like this. It is true that the debates, the meetings cannot take place as it was imagined. But the subjects which are posed are serious enough to raise the level of a presidential campaign", explains the former socialist president, who is accused of supporting lip service only the PS candidate Anne Hidalgo.
Mr. Hollande, who was himself tempted to embark on the campaign, cited as issues Europe, the alliance strategy within the framework of NATO, defence, energy independence and the transition in the face of to the climate crisis.
The former head of state also swept aside the statements of Senate President LR Gérard Larcher who questioned on Tuesday the "legitimacy" of an elected president "without a campaign".
"An election, whatever the level of participation, gives legitimacy to whoever is elected," he insisted.
During his press conference on Thursday, the president-candidate Emmanuel Macron had himself replied: "a president of the Senate should not say that".
© 2022 AFP