Report
Presidential: in the north of France, Valérie Pécresse bets everything on security
Audio 01:23
The president of the Ile-de-France regional council of the right-wing Les Républicains (LR) party and presidential candidate, Valérie Pecresse, arrives for a speech in front of business leaders during a visit to the city of Marcq-en-Barœul, in the north of France, on March 29, 2022. AFP - DENIS CHARLET
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
After several days of isolation due to her contamination with covid-19, Valérie Pécresse returned to the field this Tuesday, March 29 in the north of France.
In the company of Xavier Bertrand, the right-wing candidate tried to relaunch her campaign at half mast by going to meet business leaders near Lille and talking about security and the fight against Islamism to the inhabitants of a poor district of Roubaix.
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Valérie Pécresse hoped for a good resumption of the campaign after five days of isolation linked to the coronavirus, but in front of the entrepreneurs of the “
Flandres Business Club
”, the founder Olivier Talbert shot her with embarrassing, even sexist questions: “
When you have such a well-known woman than you, how does your husband experience this notoriety?
“There is even a video of her dating from the 2010 regionals: “ There is
nothing like a woman to do the housework!
“Candidate LR defends herself.
“
Friends, if you haven't screwed up in the last 12 years, then throw the first stone at me!
“, she smiles, before trying to talk about debureaucratization, lower charges and debt reduction.
Security everywhere, social nowhere
Then, a radical change of scenery, here she is in Roubaix, which a controversial report has depicted as a symbol of the rise of Islamism, in the street to discuss with inhabitants.
Some denounce: "
There are dealers everywhere
", speak of "
waste disposal
", and a man apostrophes: " I
expect
firmness
".
It 's up to Valérie Pécresse to plead: "
It's really what I want, with the compulsory municipal police, with video surveillance, with zero impunity
".
►
Also to listen: The presidential campaign also goes through influencers
Security and identity, key words for Valérie Pécresse:
“
I want the Republic to always be at home, I want those who fight against Islamism to know that I will always be by their side.
“
She draws on the fundamentals of the right to make the polls lie:
“We must put more police …”,
but several residents bring her back to social reality:
“Yes and no, if there is work and social , It's good.
»
On the sidewalk opposite, construction workers watch, disillusioned.
On April 10, they will not vote.
Twelve candidates are in the running for the 2022 French presidential election. © FMM graphic studio
... © FMM Graphic Studio
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Presidential France 2022
French politics
Valerie Pécresse