Posted
Update
Arrived fourth in the primary of the right, Xavier Bertrand wanted to appear as the natural candidate of the Republicans. A brutal fall for the president of Hauts-de-France.
In Saint-Quentin (Aisne), a city of which Xavier Bertrand was mayor, the inhabitants are still in shock at the elimination of their former city councilor in the first round of the Republican primary. “Leaving LR was a mistake”, estimates a passerby.
The deputy Julien Dive, one of his closest supporters, says he has no regrets. “We knew it would be difficult. He was always aware that politics could stop overnight”, explains the elected representative of Aisne. And yet, Xavier Bertrand believed in it hard as iron, to the point of declaring himself last March alone in front of the people before finally rallying to the primary of the right. On December 2, it was a cold shower for the president of Hauts-de-France, who did not pass the first round and called to vote for Valérie Pécresse. Now, he says he wants to devote himself fully to his region.