Tributes to General de Gaulle followed one another this Wednesday, November 9 in Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises, in the east of France, where the general died 52 years ago. The three Republican candidates, in the midst of a battle for the presidency of the party, spent a few minutes together at the tomb of the father of the Fifth Republic.
Detained in the National Assembly, Éric Ciotti almost missed the family photo. But everyone is there. The three candidates in front of the General’s grave around the interim president, Annie Genevard. The atmosphere is cordial. Aurélien Pradié plays collectively: “ The competition for the shallot, the most Gaullist, the most faithful, the most gimmicky, the most gimmicky, that’s it. We are all different, we have our sensibilities, our personalities and I think we are deeply Gaullist. »
And the campaign takes over…
But very quickly the campaign takes over. Asked about the strategy of his competitors, Éric Ciotti highlights his consistency on sovereign themes. “ I am consistent. I cannot accept or imply that there would be any complacency with racist expression. As for the substance, everyone knows my positions. They have never changed. They are always constant. And they are not fluctuating on the eve of an election. »
In the sights of Éric Ciotti, Bruno Retailleau, accused of having supported the deputy RN Grégoire de Fournas. It’s a campaign. The boss of the LR senators assumes: “ We are competitors. We must not be the dumbest right in the world. I believe that everyone is in their own lane and must actually lead their own campaign. And a campaign, we are fully committed to it. Which is absolutely natural. »
No time to waste
A last photo for the road and everyone leaves in their own car. No time to waste. The three candidates held a meeting on Thursday evening. More than 91,000 activists will be called upon to vote for the new LR president, the party announced on Wednesday evening.
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