“Emmanuel Macron is a man sufficiently independent intellectually not to think that he is the object of influence of anyone”, assures Monday, May 9 on franceinfo Christophe Castaner, questioned on the role of President Sarkozy, who was present during the inauguration ceremony of the Head of State and supported Emmanuel Macron in the second round. He responded to criticism of some of the nominations granted by the majority.
No “requirement” of Nicolas Sarkozy
While the Sarkozyist and outgoing LR deputy Constance Le Grip is part of a new salvo of 52 candidates invested Sunday by the majority, Christophe Castaner refutes any “requirement” by Nicolas Sarkozy. “I do not believe that he is Emmanuel Macron’s adviser. It is useful for a President of the Republic to dialogue with former presidents, but it is not a game of influence.”
“It is our politicians who decide” nominations, ensures the outgoing president of the LREM group in the National Assembly. “I do not believe” that Emmanuel Macron validates each of the nominations, he also specifies. Regarding other outgoing LR deputies macron-compatible who will face majority candidates, such as Guillaume Larrivé or Damien Abad, Christophe Castaner does not clarify the rule of nominations. “It’s done by our politicians, on a case-by-case basis.”
What role for Nicolas Sarkozy? ➡️ “The two presidents speak to each other. I do not believe that he is Emmanuel Macron’s adviser. He has not made any demands on the nominations”, assures the president of the LREM group to the National Assembly. pic.twitter.com/nWsIlMLct7
— franceinfo (@franceinfo) May 9, 2022
Thierry Solère “is presumed innocent”
Among these candidates from the right, Thierry Solère took the plunge in 2017 and was reinvested this year by the presidential majority. The man in the shadows, adviser to the Elysée precisely responsible for recruiting on the right, is not worried by his indictments for 13 counts, in particular for tax evasion, fictitious employment or even illicit campaign financing electoral. “He is presumed innocent, I do not belong to those who condemn people”reacts Christophe Castaner by denying everything “special treatment for Thierry Solère”.
Investiture for Thierry Solère, indicted 13 times ➡️ “He is presumed innocent. He is in a very old procedure which obviously does not advance. I do not belong to those who condemn people before they are condemned by the justice”, says Christophe Castaner pic.twitter.com/rdcXN1pN1b
— franceinfo (@franceinfo) May 9, 2022
Manuel Valls “can bring something to the political debate”
During his interview on franceinfo, the former socialist also justified the nomination of Manuel Valls in the absence of the LREM deputy leaving the fifth constituency of French people living abroad (Spain, Portugal, Andorra, Monaco). “Stéphane Vojetta was not elected deputy, he was a substitute. We are choosing a personality who can bring something to the political debate and in our majority”including on subjects with which Christophe Castaner says he is “at variance” with the former prime minister. He underlines the fact that Manuel Valls “has long been committed to supporting Emmanuel Macron”.
Manuels Valls invested in Spain against outgoing deputy Stéphane Vojetta ➡️ “Stéphane is a man of quality. We are choosing a political personality who can bring something to the public debate”, replies the boss of the LREM deputies. pic.twitter.com/KQpE5SiTFm
— franceinfo (@franceinfo) May 9, 2022
Zineb El Rhazoui: “At no time was his candidacy considered”
Finally Christophe Castaner denied the indiscretions according to which the editorialist Zineb El Rhazoui, in particular close to the far-right influencer Papacito, will be invested by the presidential majority in the elections of June 12 and 19. “From my information, at no time was her candidacy considered and she did not apply for it.”
Zineb El Rhazoui invested? ➡️ “It’s amazing that you can say that she was approached. At no time was her candidacy considered. The reality is that Zineb El Rhazoui is not a candidate. She is not. and will not be”, assures Christophe Castaner pic.twitter.com/IkcPHbAw2s
— franceinfo (@franceinfo) May 9, 2022
Christophe Castaner also said to himself “favorable” to improve the system for monitoring Members’ mandate expenses “if it still needs to be improved”while the practices of two outgoing LREM deputies, Patricia Mirallès and Coralie Dubost, have been pinned down by Mediapart in recent days. “I also heard Patricia Mirallès say it was wrong. It’s not for me to judge.” The president of the LREM group in the National Assembly recalls that these mandate fees have been controlled since 2018 by an ethics officer. “Five years ago, there were no rules. I know I was a deputy. There, you have someone who checks.”