Republican Candidates Compete to Lead French Right
Ahead of the May 17-18 election to select the new leader of the Republican Party (LR), candidates Bruno Retailleau and Laurent Wauquiez have been outlining their platforms and attempting to differentiate themselves.
Bruno Retailleau: Reforming the Right
In an interview on France 2, Retailleau, the leader of LR deputies in the National Assembly, emphasized his desire to "rebuild the right" rather than simply oppose his rival. He highlighted the importance of valuing work, arguing that "the French people see that our country is blocked because of work. Those who don’t work earn more than those who do." Retailleau pointed to the high level of employee contributions that reduce net salaries, using the example of a gross salary of 3000 euros being reduced to 2300 euros net.
Laurent Wauquiez: Freedom of Speech and Ideological Independence
Wauquiez, in contrast, stressed his commitment to freedom of speech and his refusal to be "bound by government solidarity," unlike his opponent. "When you are in government, you cannot dissociate yourself from the voice of the Prime Minister or the President," he said. Wauquiez cited the President’s nomination of Richard Ferrand as a candidate for the presidency of the Constitutional Council as an example of Retailleau’s lack of independence. While Wauquiez expressed his view that Ferrand was "not a good choice," Retailleau was forced to remain neutral due to the separation of powers.
Wauquiez asserted that the Constitutional Council has significant influence on key issues such as labor law, security, and immigration. He criticized Ferrand for his lack of legal expertise and his affiliation with both the left and the Macron camp. Wauquiez also criticized the outgoing President of the Constitutional Council, Laurent Fabius, for "ruining the immigration law" during his tenure.
Disagreements with the National Rally
Despite his conservative views on issues of law and order, Wauquiez rejected the idea of a "cordon sanitaire" around the National Rally (RN), the far-right party led by Marine Le Pen. However, he ruled out any alliance with the RN due to their differing economic policies. "When we proposed imposing mandatory hours of work in exchange for RSA (welfare benefits), the RN voted against it," Wauquiez said. He placed the RN on the "far left" in terms of economics.
Coalition Building
Wauquiez expressed his belief in "a broad coalition of the right" but placed the RN "on the extreme left" in terms of economics. He emphasized the regular disagreements between the RN and the right in the National Assembly, such as the RN’s opposition to the requirement for work in exchange for welfare benefits.
The election between Retailleau and Wauquiez will determine the future direction of the Republican Party and its role in French politics, with the winner tasked with rebuilding the party and challenging the Macron government’s policies.
