Bad news for Macron: Valérie Pécresse enters the race for French presidency

(Patria) - Valérie Pécresse has been elected as the candidate of the French right-wing Republican party in the upcoming presidential elections in France next year. She is also the first woman to be chosen as their candidate by the conservatives. This politician now faces an even bigger challenge – preparing to defeat Emmanuel Macron, the current French leader who is seeking a second term.

The former minister and current head of the Paris region won the center-right party's primary on Saturday with 61 percent of the vote, leaving Éric Ciotti behind. Politico writes that Pécresse's victory is bad news for Macron.

The politician, who held two ministerial posts during President Nicolas Sarkozy's term, has similar ambitions and aspirations as the current president. She offers a modern brand of conservatism that is liberal on the economy and tough on law and order. However, Pécresse joins a crowded field of candidates on the right, and with her party's first rally cancelled due to a new wave of coronavirus, she will have to work hard to gain momentum.

“I have good news. The Republican right has returned, the right that stands for its beliefs has returned, and France can no longer wait,” she told her supporters.

She promised to give her all, “her strength and determination” to lead the party to victory.

In the first round of the party vote, former EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier was defeated, as was Xavier Bertrand, who was considered a favorite within the party. Upon the announcement of the results, they offered their support to Valérie Pécresse in the upcoming elections.

Given that immigration and security are the main issues leading up to the elections, party insiders hope that the strong approach of Éric Ciotti, a member of the French parliament, could retain voters who might otherwise go to the far-right party. Current opinion polls show that Pécresse would get 10 percent in the elections, compared to 24 percent for Macron, 19 percent for Marine Le Pen, and 14 percent for Éric Zemmour, writes Politico.

Pécresse presented Macron as a politician without convictions.

“Between me and the current president, there is more than a difference in political line, there is also a difference in character. He has only one ambition, to please, while I have only one passion – to get the job done,” she said.

Despite being a career politician, Pécresse also has the advantage of being a new face in the race at a time when distrust of politicians remains high, especially after the Yellow Vest protests during Macron's term.

Pécresse described herself as “one-third Margaret Thatcher and two-thirds Angela Merkel.” She promised to raise the retirement age to 65 and cut thousands of public sector jobs if elected president of France. Like most right-wing candidates, she has also become tougher on immigration, reflecting the influence of the far-right on mainstream parties. She promises to “restore French pride” and defend “family values.”

Pécresse is under attack from Le Pen, who described her as the candidate “most like Macron” in the Republican primaries.

“She has exactly the same profile as Macron and agrees with him on many issues. I feel sorry for the conservative voters… but they can always join my campaign, where they will find an unashamed defense of the nation,” Le Pen said on French television.

But within the Republicans, some believe that Ciotti – who received 39 percent of the vote – has been strengthened. They hope he will play a strong role in the campaign.

“Ciotti can block Zemmour and Le Pen on right-wing issues, while Pécresse has rhetoric that appeals to business leaders and high earners, the conservative base that Macron took,” Christian Jacob, advisor to the party leader, told Politico.

As head of the regional government in “Île-de-France” (the Paris region comprising eight departments), she can draw on firsthand experience, has a small budget, and deals with social problems in the poor Parisian suburbs. During Sarkozy's government, she was Minister of the Budget and Minister of Higher Education. She was also an advisor to former French President Jacques Chirac. Last year, she was spoken of in the media as a potential new prime minister before Jean Castex was appointed.

Valérie Pécresse advocates for a strong right, but for that right to be secular and ecological. She also advocates for gender equality, both in business and in society. At one point, she condemned the sexism present in politics, reports cdm.