“Damien Abad was pushed out“, reacts Thursday, May 19 on franceinfo the deputy LR Pierre-Henri Dumont, while the deputy of Ain announced in Le Figaro to leave the presidency of the group Les Républicains and the National Assembly and to put himself “on leave“of his party.
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“For several weeks, he has been belly dancing to Emmanuel Macron“, condemns Pierre-Henri Dumont while certain indiscretions send Damien Abad to the next government. “All LR deputies have asked that he leave the presidency of the group. He no longer had a choice.“
franceinfo: What was your reaction to this departure?
Pierre-Henri Dumont: Damien Abad did not slam the door of the party, he was pushed out by all the deputies and by the leadership of the Republicans. For several weeks, he has been belly dancing to Emmanuel Macron. However, at Les Républicains, we cannot be close to Emmanuel Macron in the same way that we cannot be close to the National Rally or Eric Zemmour. He had no choice after the ultimatum issued by party president Christian Jacob.
Does Damien Abad have any support from LR deputies?
What I know, since I attended it, is that during Tuesday’s group meeting by video, all the Republican deputies who took the floor asked, without exception, Damien Abad to take his responsibilities by leaving the presidency of the LR group. So what I can tell you is that this (Thursday) evening, the LR deputies are very satisfied with the decision that was taken. It is a logical decision, which above all allows respect for the deputies, even if Damien Abad did not announce it to them and preferred to do so in the press. Which is a rather pitiful and lamentable way of doing things.
Is it problematic that the new government has still not been named?
The reality is that it will not be a new government but rather a cabinet reshuffle. It is the same president, the same teams and, moreover, it is not even Madame Borne who chose her chief of staff but Emmanuel Macron who did so before choosing his Prime Minister. The reality is that knowing who will apply Emmanuel Macron’s decisions, in which ministry and who will be under the control of which senior official, is of very little importance. You see it well, France does not stop turning.