Dati-Barnier battle for the partial legislative election in Paris: at LR, we still believe in compromise

Illusory dream or last-ditch attempt at conciliation? In an interview with Le Figaro , the president of the National Investiture Commission (CNI) of the Republicans party and also Minister of Agriculture, Annie Genevard, extends a new hand to Rachida Dati. "I want to believe [in an agreement for the upcoming legislative by-election in the 2nd constituency of Paris] and we have two months ahead of us to unite the right in Paris," asserts the number 3 of LR, while the Parisian right sinks into yet another psychodrama of which it has the secret. Since the invalidation of the outgoing deputy on Rachida Dati's lands - notably the 7th arrondissement - war has been declared between her and her (former?) party. Declared candidate, Michel Barnier was invested by LR on Monday evening, triggering the dissent of the Minister of Culture .

"Without Rachida Dati, LR cannot win [the mayoralty of] Paris. Without LR, it cannot win Paris," Genevard tries to convince. "Well-understood" self-interest should, according to her, help to dispel the doubts of the mayor of the 7th arrondissement: "Rachida Dati fears, like many top politicians, potential rivalries. We must ward off this fear," insists the Minister of Agriculture. "Michel Barnier has been very clear: he is not and will not be a candidate for mayor of Paris." These remarks support the official LR press release published after the CNI and which designated Rachida Dati , at this stage, as "the best placed" to embody the change.

Enough to reassure Dati? Not so sure... The violence with which the Minister of Culture, sent to the correctional court for "concealment of property obtained with the help of a breach of trust", "passive influence peddling" and "passive corruption" in the Renault-Nissan affair , slammed the door on Monday in the National Intelligence Service after a brief fifteen-minute visit leaves little doubt about her ambition to prevent Michel Barnier from establishing himself in Paris.

All this under the eyes of a Macronist executive that is currently a spectator, keeping several options open : accepting Barnier's nomination (although the President of the Republic is not in favor of his former Prime Minister's return to Parliament), supporting the Minister of Culture, or presenting an independent candidate, such as that of the Minister for Digital Affairs, Clara Chappaz.

In this interview with Le Figaro, Annie Genevard also reaches out to Horizons, which is allied with Renaissance in the presidential camp but which could be interested in supporting Barnier's candidacy. "If Horizons judges that it is more useful to support a right-wing candidate than a candidate from its ranks with lesser notoriety, then they will show responsibility," the minister says. The right is not finished with this farce.