Until now, only deputy Eric Ciotti had been a candidate for the presidency of the Republicans, whose election will be held in early December.
Le Monde with AFP
She had left the political world before creating, among other things, a digital school. The ex-numéro two of the Republicans (LR), Virginie Calmels, announced, Tuesday, August 23, his candidacy for the presidency of the party, on a “balanced” line and “to the epicenter of the various LR currents”.
“I am a candidate for the presidency of the Republicans” because “I do not resign myself to see LR chaining the defeats and continuing to shrink without a clear line”, she says in a Maintenance granted to Le Figaro . The former assistant of Alain Juppé in Bordeaux and ephemeral ally of Laurent Wauquiez, when he directed the party, pleads to “reconnect with the disappointed of LR”.
Until now, only deputy Eric Ciotti (LR) has been a candidate for the presidency of the Republicans, whose election will be held on December 3 and 4.
Defending a right “equidistant by Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen” and who “combines freedom and restoration of sovereignty”, Virginie Calmels, 51, promises to “give” wings and air at LR “”. “I do not believe in excluding lines, either [a line] statist and sovereignist, or [a line] too conservative, or [a line] illegal that will buy the voters on the right,” she adds.
Very critical of President Emmanuel Macron whose “at the same time” shows his limits daily “, she also believes that” the great weakness of macronism is the sovereign “.
dismissed by Laurent Wauquiez
Representative of liberal sensitivity within LR, M me calm had been dismissed in June 2018 by Laurent Wauquiez, then party patron, and in open conflict with his number two. She had notably criticized an LR leaflet entitled “For France to remain France”, distributed during a mobilization operation, which it had deemed “anxiety”.
Graduated from the Toulouse Higher School of Commerce as well as the European Business Administration Institute (INSEAD), former director general of Endemol Monde, Virginie Calmels had left political life in 2019 to join the group Luxury Real estate Barnes, then to launch a digital school in 2020.
The Republicans will elect their next president on December 3 and 4 (with possibly a second round, on 10 and 11), to succeed Christian Jacob whose interim is provided by Annie Genevard. The deputy for Doubs said she was thinking about getting started, and many are betting on a candidacy for the number three of the party, Aurélien Pradié, holding a social line.
Potential candidates have until October 3 to deposit sponsorships.