The former Prime Minister traveled to Cannes for a public meeting, during which he addressed the “disasters” undermining the party’s life. Under the city’s large market hangar, he immediately thanked the hundreds of local UMP activists who had made the trip, “despite the fetid atmosphere over the political party, despite the slander and the mud.”
Before addressing the “two recent disasters” in the life of the party: “The defeat in the European elections and the financial scandals.”
In the presence of all the local leaders (Jean Leonetti, Jean-Claude Guibal, Charles-Ange Ginesy, Senator Colette Giudicelli and future senator Dominique Estrosi-Sassone) and many mayors, François Fillon took the opportunity to endorse Eric Ciotti, his loyal supporter: @FrancoisFillon: “I want to salute @ECiotti, my right-hand man… to defeat the left”
The good rapport between the two is confirmed by the reaction of the President of the General Council: @ECiotti: A lot of enthusiasm behind @FrancoisFillon, for another France, for a courageous France.
His former rival, Jean-François Copé, ousted by the Bygmalion affair, François Fillon now positions himself as a reformer of the UMP. During a public meeting on Thursday, July 10, the former Prime Minister spoke about the future of the party, which he believes is in “danger,” weakened by a “financial scandal” and “behaviors contrary to the values” he defends.
François Fillon initially placed himself above the fray. “What is at stake today is not to know which personality will prevail, which stable will profit from this crisis, he assures. What is at stake today is the existence of a political family.”
A speech that did not prevent him thereafter from outlining the paths of a personal program, announcing at the start of the school year his “project to reduce public spending.”
Beyond the issues undermining the UMP, François Fillon preferred to devote the majority of his intervention to the government and François Hollande, a president who “has lost all credibility.”
