After having played the role of “Hamlet in petticoats” for several weeks, the outgoing MP has decided to leave LR and run in the next legislative elections under the colors of the presidential majority, Horizons version.
In a statement published on April 29, she justifies her decision with this observation: “There are now three political blocs: the far right, the far left, and the majority and moderate bloc.” She adds: “My party has been sidelined, and to have influence in the national debate, the republican right has no other option but to be alongside the presidential majority.”
Yet Marine Brenier fervently defended the LR candidate, Valérie Pécresse, during the presidential campaign.
One might wonder the reason for this shift, but more likely it’s the knowledge that Eric Ciotti, the LR president in the department, would not re-nominate her as a candidate in the 5th constituency—which extends from Nice westward to the hinterland—that forced the outgoing MP—a political protégé of Christian Estrosi who ceded his constituency to her and is thus seen as heretical—to preemptively decide to leave her former party.
Isn’t it better to walk out on your own than to be shown the door unceremoniously—Isn’t Eric Ciotti known as Mr. Authority?
For several weeks, all LR nominations had been frozen in the Alpes-Maritimes, pending this decision. Now, the spot is open, and another candidate is on the horizon: Christelle D’Intorni, the mayor of Rimplas, a loyal “gunslinger” of Eric Ciotti on the Metropolitan Council.
In 2017, out of nine deputies, six were elected under the LR banner in the Alpes-Maritimes. Three were affiliated with LREM.
