LR will remain "the first opposition force", assure Jacob and Karoutchi

"I am convinced that Les Républicains can remain the main opposition force in the National Assembly," said Mr. Jacob in Le Figaro.

"LR will remain the main opposition group, because whatever the acronym Popular Union, behind there will be at least three different left groups in the Assembly or even four," added Mr. Karoutchi on Public Senate, adding : "Trust in the abilities of division also in others".

"Our activists are very determined precisely because they want their revenge for 4.78," he added, referring to the score of LR candidate Valérie Pécresse in the presidential election.

For Christian Jacob "there is a path between the single party of Emmanuel Macron and the extremes, which only Les Républicains and their centrist allies will be able to embody" in particular by their "territorial anchorage".

"Everyone will take their place in this campaign: Laurent Wauquiez, Xavier Bertrand and all the executives of our political family", he added, underlining the line of independence of the Republicans reaffirmed Tuesday in the strategic committee.

He again warned elected officials tempted by a rapprochement with Macron: "we are either LR or LREM" and "this line applies to everyone".

Contrasting remarks with those of the LR mayor of Meaux Jean-François Copé, who pleaded on Wednesday for "a pact" with the majority which "would allow us together to imagine how to provide answers on subjects which today are not dealt with "such as security, secularism...

"You have two opposing theses" at LR, between "those who do not want to discuss anything with En Marche" and "others who have taken a step back, this is my case", for whom "what account is that things are done for the French", he explained on Public Sénat.

Asked about Radio J, the ex-candidate for the primary of LR Philippe Juvin, who had abstained on Tuesday during the vote in the strategic committee, warned: "My fear is that if we do not move forward today on a German government contract, we found ourselves with a small group" of "30 or 40 deputies" against a hundred today.

© 2022 AFP