The High Authority of the Les Républicains party says no to Virginie Calmels. The body rejected, Monday, August 29, her candidacy for the presidency of the party, arguing that she had resumed her card too late to join the ranks. “Can only be candidates for the presidency of the party members up to date with their contributions on July 22, 2022. Unless the party services are mistaken, this was not your case”says the president of the body, Henri de Beauregard, in a letter to Virginie Calmels that AFP was able to consult.
“I inform you that your application does not appear admissible”he adds. The deadline of July 22 appears in an electoral guide, validated in the political office on July 19, “and immediately posted on the movement’s website”, recalls the courier. Virginie Calmels, who announced her candidacy on August 23, points to “manoeuvres” aiming to “to avoid” his candidacy which “shakes up a well-oiled scenario written in advance”, she wrote in a statement. The election of the president of LR is scheduled for the weekend of December 3. Prospective applicants have until October 3 to submit sponsorships.
“These attempts to prevent my candidacy only strengthen my determination to clean up a party that really needs it”she says, announcing a formal notice from her lawyer to the High Authority. “I am well aware that my profile as a female entrepreneur who does not live from politics is disturbing”she adds, also regretting not being able to speak at the back-to-school campus for young LRs, on September 3 and 4 in Angers, “while the other declared candidate, Eric Ciotti, will participate in a round table”.
Representative of liberal sensibility within the party, she was sacked from her position as number 2 in June 2018 by Laurent Wauquiez, then party boss, and in open conflict with her. The former managing director of Endemol Monde then moved away from politics, joining the luxury real estate group Barnes in 2019, before launching a digital school in 2020.