Jean-Paul Leonelli, one of the most loyal among the loyal followers of Christian Estrosi, is playing the Presidential card solo, while his mentor has chosen the outgoing President.
The text below provides the motivation.
While respecting this choice, it is, however, difficult to believe that the multi-elected key figure in Christian Estrosi’s structure could have made this decision without the approval of the “boss,” who does not favor individual adventures.
Very recently, the ambitious Gaël Nofri, who aspired to run for parliamentary candidacy on an individual basis, was reprimanded, and the “Ciottist” duo Chaix-Frontoni, which had taken liberties during a vote, was disciplined.
Therefore, to deduce that this is a tactical maneuver to muddle the waters of this right-wing primary against candidate Eric Ciotti is a step we cautiously avoid taking, yet it has all the characteristics that make it believable.
“I have decided to support Michel Barnier and join his campaign team for the presidential election.
Remaining true to my convictions, I choose to support a Gaullist candidate, backed by many quality elected officials: parliamentarians and local representatives. Michel Barnier is uncompromising about public affairs, attentive and concerned about the issues that France will face in the coming years, and above all, he is not a man of demagoguery.
As I have already explained, I remain resolutely attached to my political family despite the incessant ego quarrels that occur and undermine the inherently unifying nature we inherited from Jacques Chirac.
Three reasons for supporting someone who is unjustly presented as an outsider:
– First, the call for a courageous moratorium on immigration: where many candidates fidget on TV sets in search of far-right votes, Michel Barnier confirms his commitment to a more rigorous management of flows, but without favoring fanciful proposals far removed from the realism necessary for anyone intending to preside over the Republic.
– Secondly, as European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services, Michel Barnier is a knowledgeable individual focused on restoring France’s economic position, long overshadowed by Germany, which is particularly necessary as the founding members of the European Union still struggle to find their footing following Mr. Johnson’s Brexit.
– Finally, as a former Minister of Agriculture, Michel Barnier has demonstrated his commitment to our regions as well as to the decentralized Republic we aim for: it is about solving the persistent issue of the “territorial mille-feuille” and reconciling it with the necessary role of the territorial advisor as envisioned by Nicolas Sarkozy.
As Michel Barnier put it, this presidential term that was supposed to achieve great things leaves the French in a state of waiting and remains the “quinquennium of missed opportunities”: hence, it is necessary for the Republicans to pave the way for a more mature and skilled candidate, well-versed in technical dossiers, who will not shy away from crossing swords with our closest European partners in France’s interest.
I choose a program and a seasoned candidate rather than succumbing to the media’s temptations of ego-driven confrontations: therein lies my Gaullist conviction, my Republican fiber, and my public commitment to serving our fellow citizens.”
