Jean-Marie Le Pen and Marie-Christine Arnautu confirmed during a press briefing on the occasion of the Galette des Rois for registered members and activists in Nice their objective to replicate the result of the European elections (leading party of the city, department, and region) during the two deadlines this year: the departmental elections scheduled for the last two weekends of March and the regional elections at the end of the year.
The European deputy, who since January 5 has also been the head of the Alpes-Maritimes Federation, succeeding Lydia Schenardi, does not hide her ambitions: “On February 3, we will present the lists for the departmental elections. We will be present in all 27 cantons with quality candidates. Many people, and of the first order, are associating with our political formation, the only real opposition to the government’s policy and the European Commission, which is leading us to bankruptcy.”
When asked if the FN has ambitions in terms of elected officials, the elected representative did not want to hide her goal: “Despite the barrage that will be made against us, look at Carros where the UMP is bringing in a former communist in the name of standing against the FN. I know we’ve set the bar very high, but I’m not afraid.”
Finally, Marie-Christine Arnautu does not forget her role as a municipal councilor in Nice: “The electoral campaign will also serve to denounce Christian Estrosi’s double talk. Sometimes, I would want to send him an honorary card from our party because his ideas are just a copy-paste of ours!”
To conclude: “With us, the little shenanigans between the UMP and the fake left opposition in the General Council will end. We are a force of opposition but also of proposal, and Eric Ciotti will have to get used to a strong opposition paired with a capacity for proposal.”
In great form, as caustic as ever, Jean-Marie Le Pen developed his usual political, societal, and economic themes.
A brief mention of the Charlie Hebdo issue allowed him to give his opinion on the subject: “Nothing excuses the murders, but this newspaper was unworthy, an enemy of the National Front. So I am not Charlie, I am Jean-Marie.”
The former political leader confirmed his availability and intention to be the list leader for the regional elections: “And I will be accompanied by my granddaughter Marion Maréchal-Le Pen, whose talent and capabilities increasingly impress me,” he said with pride.
Ambitions are also not lacking there: “I see that Michel Vauzelle, anticipating me as an opponent, has thought it best to withdraw. At the UMP, it seems that Eric Ciotti may take up the challenge. I await him, and indeed, given his ideas which are sometimes more to the right than mine, I wonder why he doesn’t join us.”
On the sidelines of the conference, Marie-Christine Arnautu presented the propaganda manifesto which will be displayed starting next week. The slogan, “Islamist peril, protect the French,” is not very original, but the message is clear: Full speed ahead with patriotism!
