Legislative elections in Paris: Michel Barnier asks Rachida Dati "not to make a mistake in the election"

Will Michel Barnier's negotiating skills dissuade Rachida Dati from running in the Paris legislative by-election? This is what the former Prime Minister, designated to represent LR in the capital's second constituency, hopes, and who encourages in the Tribune on Sunday the Minister of Culture to take a step back and give him free rein.

The Savoyard believes that the former minister has "a legitimate ambition" for the Paris mayoralty and must "not make a mistake" in the election, while the Paris councillor announced on Monday that she would be a candidate "whatever happens". in the 7th arrondissement, even if it means going into dissidence.

"I want Parisians to be able to vote for someone rather than against them," assured the former Prime Minister, who was chosen at the same time by Les Républicains . "It is up to Rachida Dati, who has a legitimate ambition to lead unity lists in Paris, not to make a mistake and to choose the right path."

"I am not a candidate for anything other than the parliamentary seat," insists the short-lived head of government. "Rachida Dati knows this. I told her and I even wrote it to the members of Les Républicains […] There is no ambiguity about that," he adds, saying he is ready to support the minister in her race for City Hall.

At Pol's

People close to the mayor of the 7th arrondissement, who was sent to trial on July 22 for corruption and influence peddling, fear that Michel Barnier also has ambitions for the Paris mayoralty if she cannot run.

The same people also criticize him for parachuting into office, having previously been elected to the Savoie constituency. Michel Barnier disagrees: "It's been more than twenty-five years since I voluntarily left my position in Savoie," "I've been a Parisian for more than twenty years. I've lived in this constituency for more than twelve years."

These rivalries risk leading to a new fratricidal war, something that Les Républicains are accustomed to, particularly in Paris, where, from Jacques Chirac against Michel d'Ornanon, Jena Tibéri against Philippe Seguin, Rachida Dati against Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, internal quarrels have animated the Parisian electoral campaigns. In an attempt to avoid this, LR said on Saturday, through the voice of the president of the Paris federation Agnès Evren, that it hopes to reach an agreement with Rachida Dati "by the start of the school year."