On Sunday March 20, there are gestures and looks that will be scrutinized closely: on the occasion of the commemorations of the ten years of the attacks in Toulouse and Montauban, Emmanuel Macron and Nicolas Sarkozy will be side by side for the time of a ceremony. IIt was enough to revive speculation: several articles in the regional press claim that the former head of state will support the presidential candidate. I’entourage of Nicolas Sarkozy formally denies, but that does not prevent the rumor from circulating.
A historic right-wing baron summarizes the situation thus: “It is clear that Nicolas Sarkozy does not want to support Valérie Pécresse.” Via indiscretions in the press, the former president has already made known all the evil he thinks of this candidate.
Valérie Pécresse did everything to obtain, despite everything, his support: she went to visit him in his offices, she sent him political messages recycling the idea of the Kärcher in the suburbs… She even proposed that Nicolas Sarkozy become a mediator in the Ukrainian crisis. En vain, rnothing works. Nicolas Sarkozy remains silent. “A silence that becomes heavy”, says a former Sarkozy minister. Un long ordeal for the one who is slowly falling in the polls.
But Sarkozy’s support for Macron would be the coup de grace for candidate LR, and we can’t imagine that Nicolas Sarkozy is not aware of it. This is why several theories circulate. “He won’t move until the first round”believes to know a Sarkozyst. “Ihe war will give him a pretext”theorizes another former right-wing minister.
Nicolas Sarkozy should speak to the press on Sunday morning. It is rumored that he could display a kind of neutrality in the presidential election. “Un implicit support”a member of the government is already jubilant. A possibility that worries on the right: “It would be a moral and political shock wave”, a right-wing executive told me last night. VSconcretely, this would risk blowing up Les Républicains. IIt is also said that some elected LRs are just waiting for that to officially join Macronie.
As for Valérie Pécresse, mObviously, she has already mourned the support of Nicolas Sarkozy. Eagain this morning in The Parisian (article reserved for subscribers), questioned on the subject, she answers soberly: “I’m making my way.”