They “discredited to govern France”. The Republican (LR) candidate for the presidential election, Valérie Pécresse, lambasted the candidates for the Elysée on Saturday February 26 in Normandy. “who defended” Russia.
“There are candidates today in this election who have defended Russia’s position, who have aligned themselves with its positions, who are financed by Russian interests. There have been very strong statements in favor of Mr. [Vladimir] Poutine from a Jean-Luc Mélenchon, an Eric Zemmour, a Marine Le Pen”continued M.me Pécresse.
“I believe that today it really discredits them for governing France”, added the candidate, who was speaking in Courseulles-sur-mer (Calvados) at the foot of an 18-meter-high cross of Lorraine facing Juno Beach. This monument commemorates the landing of General de Gaulle on French soil, at this location on June 14, 1944.
“Talking about resistance, talking about Free France, it’s symbolic today”she also said, alluding to Russia’s attack on Ukraine. “Today, what we need is a free France and I choose this free France, this standing France, this France of General de Gaulle”continued the president of the Ile-de-France region.
She defended a “France, which clearly chooses its allies, which chooses the United States as an ally, which is not a vassal of the United States and which is certainly not an ally of Mr. Putin and Russia”.
“Drop the masks”
“War is at our doorstep on the European continent and faced with this explosion which affects us all, I believe that during this trip to Normandy it was important for me to come and remind you that I am defending a Gaullist France”she added.
During a meeting in Caen, she then added: “Today we are at a turning point in the campaign because today it’s ‘drop the masks’. Like you, I heard Mme Le Pen tell us, and I quote: “Mr. Putin carries, through the policy carried out in Russia, the program that we want for France. » “I heard Eric Zemmour tell us ‘I would dream of a French Poutine’ (…). Shame on them ! »she hammered, referring to a statement by the polemicist in 2018.
“I always said the same”
“All the presidential candidates who profess boundless admiration for Mr. Poutine, whether Mr. Mélenchon, Mr.me Le Pen, Mr. Zemmour, all those who accepted Russian fundingare disqualified (…) to preside over France”, she insisted in front of about 700 people. An argument similar to that put forward by the socialist candidate, Anne Hidalgo, in recent days, who has constantly referred the position of Jean-Luc Mélenchon to that of the French far right.
« Mme Pécresse, I challenge you to find a text or a video where Jean-Luc Mélenchon “professes boundless admiration for V. Poutine””retorted Antoine Léaumant on Twitterin charge of the digital communication of the “rebellious” candidate. “If you can’t, then you are a liar. Lying qualifies to represent the French people? »he asked himself on Saturday evening.
“Our position is that of non-alignment” on Russia or the United States, “in the service of peace”assured Adrien Quatennens, the deputy of La France insoumise, Sunday on BFM-TV.
The candidate of La France insoumise denied on Friday having a pro-Putin position and rejected the accusations: “I’ve always said the same: we don’t cross borders. If you threaten Russia, it will cross the borders. Now that she crosses the border, [les pays occidentaux] haven’t planned anything and it’s me who’s being held accountable? I find that extraordinary. »
Also at the same meeting, the Republican candidate then ruled that Vladimir Putin is “an enemy of France and of Europe” car, “Three days ago, Vladimir Putin decided to violate the most basic rules of international law and invade Ukraine” and “stabbed a dagger in the hearts of the Ukrainian people”.
Valérie Pécresse has been freed from a burden since the announcement on Friday of the resignation of former Prime Minister François Fillon from his Russian mandates on the boards of directors of the petrochemical giant Sibur and Zarubezhneft, a company specializing in hydrocarbons.