The surprise winner in the first round, the deputy from the Alpes-Maritimes was unable to overturn the final result.
In acknowledging Valรฉrie Pรฉcresse’s success, he called for a “strong right without compromise” to “form a powerful collective.” He also stated that he would be campaigning with her in Saint-Martin-Vรฉsubie and Nice starting Monday.
The former collaborator and “gunslinger” of the mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, had free rein in this congress, as the sole representative of the right wing.
As the “boss” of the most powerful local LR [Les Rรฉpublicains] federation (with nearly 10,000 members), he has managed to make his ideas count and lay claim to the Ministry of the Interior he dreams of, in case of an LR candidate’s victory.
His unabashed stance appealed to LR members throughout a campaign focused on security, immigration, and identity, themes central to his political identity. Thanks to this primary, he has gained national stature.
One could describe him as a Zemmour… without the excesses. Indeed, he has not hidden his admiration for him, declaring that, in a Macron-Zemmour runoff, his vote would go to Zemmour.
Valรฉrie Pรฉcresse will be the first woman to run for the Presidency of the Republic as the candidate of the party which, under various names over the years, represents the republican right.
Elected by her party members (70% voter turnout out of 140,000 registered), she will now have to address a much larger electoral body, that of the citizens.
The challenge is significant, but her ambition is no less: “Emmanuel Macron has only one obsession, to please. I have only one passion, to do.”
It’s no coincidence she likes to define herself as “half Thatcher, half Merkel!”
