Is this a hint that he has defected to Eric Zemmour? Valérie Pécresse exchanged views with the deputy leader of her party, Gilles Platret, on Tuesday January 25, with Christian Jacob acting as mediator, as Le Parisien reported on Friday January 28. This is because the mayor of Chalon-sur-Saône is still not sure whether he would support the top Republican candidate, he said.On the other hand, he has not ruled out supporting Eric Zemmour. Gilles Platret confirmed to the daily that he would “withdraw” from Valérie Pécresse’s campaign.
This statement sounds like a reminder of the fundamental points on which they oppose each other, first and foremost the fight against Islamism. The Burgundian politician, who is particularly active on this issue (he had triggered the debate on the abolition of alternative pork menus in school canteens), advocates a ban on Salafism or the wearing of headscarves in public spaces. These positions are also held by Eric Zemmour, but not by the LR female candidate, as Le Parisien notes.
Gilles Platret had confirmed these disagreements by saying that he would “hold Valérie Pécresse accountable” for the presence of Patrick Karam in her team. Patrick Karam was denounced by Eric Zemmour’s team for his proximity to the Islamist milieu, but the latter strongly denied this. These tensions highlight how difficult it is for Valérie Pécresse to incorporate the party’s “ciottist” line, which had been mobilised in the primary, into her manifesto. The loss of a second vice-president after Guillaume Peltier could be a heavy blow for the candidate.