“It’s an important moment, but I can’t find myself there”, released Renaud Muselier, Wednesday, November 24. One week before the Les Républicains party congress, the president of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region announced on LCI that he was leaving LR, the day after the latter refused to support Xavier Bertrand.
Unhappy with the positioning in relation to the far right of the nomination contestants for the presidential election, the local elected representative said “very unhappy” to leave this political family that he considers to be “in great danger”. Return in four acts on this departure which shakes the end of the campaign in view of the LR congress.
Act 1: Muselier supports Bertrand in the race for the LR congress
It all started when Renaud Muselier decided on Tuesday to announce that he supported Xavier Bertrand to become the LR candidate in the presidential election. “I make a personal choice: support Xavier Bertrand”, who “has the necessary experience” and “is a good regional president”, says the president of the Paca region in the columns of the Parisian (reserved for subscribers).
In the same interview, the one who had benefited from a Republican front to keep his seat in the regional elections of June 2021 tackles Eric Ciotti, another contender for the LR nomination. According to Renaud Muselier, the deputy for Alpes-Maritimes has “talent for sending signals to the far right” and “he is the false nose”. The former secretary of state believes that “all those who wink at Eric Zemmour are seriously mistaken”. Besides, “if Ciotti wins the Congress, I will go directly to Macron”, he warns.
Act 2: Ciotti replies to Muselier, Bertrand refuses his support
Attacked by Renaud Muselier, Eric Ciotti responds immediately. The deputy for Alpes-Maritimes describes it as “Macron’s little telegraph operator” who “supports Xavier Bertrand in [l’]’attacking (…) in foul and coarse terms “. “Does Xavier Bertrand accept this support and validate such attacks?”, asks Eric Ciotti, in a direct arrest of his rival via Twitter.
The reaction of the president of the Hauts-de-France region was not long in coming: Tuesday afternoon, Xavier Bertrand refused this support. “Renaud Muselier has chosen to give me his support, but I cannot accept the terms. His attacks against Eric Ciotti are unacceptable”, he said on Twitter. “I intend to campaign with all the candidates, including my friend Eric Ciotti”, he adds.
.@RenaudMuselier has chosen to support me, but I cannot accept the terms. His attacks on @ECiotti and @davidlisnard are unacceptable. – (1/2)
– Xavier Bertrand (@xavierbertrand) November 23, 2021
Michel Barnier and Valérie Pécresse, other LR candidates for the congress, also support Eric Ciotti. They denounce “attacks (…) neither worthy nor up to the collective responsibility of our political family”, while Eric Ciotti “brings a rejection of the extreme right”.
A political family means diverse sensibilities and mutual respect. Full support @ECiotti and @davidlisnard who bring to the right a loyalty to their convictions and the same rejection of the extreme right. We will come together to win!
– Valérie Pécresse (@vpecresse) November 23, 2021
Act 3: Muselier slams the door of the Republicans on LCI
After the refusal of his support, Renaud Muselier explains Wednesday on LCI that he is leaving Les Républicains, a political family in the founding of which he had participated with the UMP in 2002.
LAST MINUTE
➡@RenaudMuselier announces that he is leaving @the Republicans
#LesMatinsLCI | @EliMartichoux pic.twitter.com/9Nso2kdJhz
– LCI (@LCI) November 24, 2021
Once again, the ex-Chiraquian criticizes the positioning of Eric Ciotti. “The question is simple: what is our porosity with the far right? The question is not at all clear”, he criticizes, accusing the member of the Alpes-Maritimes of “convey Zemmour’s ideas inside LR”.
Act 4: The Mayor invites him in the majority
Party of LR, Renaud Muselier he intends to approach the majority? On LCI, Renaud Muselier ensures that he is “in a logic of rupture, not of landing”. But a few minutes after the announcement of this departure, Bruno Le Maire (himself a former LR) reaches out to the president of the region on Tuesday morning on franceinfo.
Renaud Muselier leaves the Les Républicains party: “I say welcome to him. His place is in this majority, it corresponds to what he believes”, declares Bruno Le Maire, Minister of the Economy pic.twitter.com/rJ9YTja9xf
– franceinfo (@franceinfo) November 24, 2021
The Minister of the Economy wishes him the “Welcome”. “His place is in this majority, like many people who are still Republicans, whether they are mayors, deputies or ordinary citizens, and who basically share our convictions”, he adds. An outstretched hand that the person has not yet seized.