There are the elephant-parties that bulldoze everything in their path by locking down local political power, and the bee-movements that flit here and there, bringing their honey, which, as we know, helps to brainstorm, to better produce and circulate ideas.
This is the case of the Parti Radical 06, a component of the UDI but often in contrast, if not in opposition, with its local leadership.
This is again the case for the right-wing (and center, which is not participating with a candidate) primaries where, although a large majority of elected officials will express themselves at the ballot for Alain Juppé, in the Maralpine level, it is Nicolas Sarkozy who will earn the favors of the centrist group headed by Rudy Salles.
It’s a matter of local balances, electoral interests, and long-standing alliances for a group closely associated with power management in full agreement with the LR of Christian Estrosi, Eric Ciotti, and the likes.
All, except for the patrol of Hervé Cael’s radicals, president and Frédéric Flayol, departmental secretary, who will support Alain Juppé as decided by the national leadership of this party chaired by Laurent Hénart, mayor of Nancy.*
The reasoning is simple: it’s good to win the primary, but above all, the presidential election must be won, and to do so, one must unite. By trying to siphon votes from the far-right as Nicolas Sarkozy wants to do or by opening up to the center like Alain Juppé?
And for a party that claims to be centrist in its values, with whom should it align? With escalation and populism or with humanistic, European, progressive, and social values?
The choice is the consequence, even if this decision may provoke a counter-offensive from the strong local powers who prefer sheepish behaviors and do not like this type of freedom.
The Parti Radical is already positioning itself with the prospect of an alternation after the presidential election. To this end, it has developed a “manifesto” advocating a clear political stance to build a new majority which, in its vision, should be a true coalition of the right and the center.
One can see, in nuce, a new opposition with the idea of an absolute majority of Republicans with a few centrist deputies in support.
An indirect critique to those, like Rudy Salles, who have already been candidated in their constituency supported by The Republicans.
It seems that, between now and the next legislative elections, many cards are still to be played.
