One wears a red tie, the other a blue one. “Are you on the left or on the right? Rather on the left, right? Nicolas Dupont-Aignan smiles. In this complicated presidential campaign, where he seems more isolated than ever, here is finally an ally: Florian Philippot, the president of the Patriots and former right-hand man of Marine Le Pen. This rallying is “not only a support for a few weeks, it is a real alliance of patriots, sovereignists, Gaullists, of those who love France”, rejoices the candidate of Debout La France, this Monday after- noon, during a press conference at his headquarters. With this reinforcement, the deputy from Essonne hopes to thrill the polls, in which he has stagnated for months at around 2% – much less than the 3.56 of 2017.
Support for Dupont-Aignan against the choice of activists
“I don’t care about the polls, I think a dynamic will set in,” breathes Florian Philippot, who has become a figure in the protests against the health pass for many months. Under the eye of the photographers, the two men take up the pen to officially seal an agreement with a view to the next legislative elections and an “enrichment” of the presidential program of Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, with in particular a referendum on France’s exit from the European Union, “the constitutional prohibition of confinement” or “the sanctuary of cash”. “It’s very consistent with our project, we are sovereignists, fierce defenders of freedom”, justifies the microphone the former number 2 of the National Front, who could not stand for election, having received only only one sponsorship.
Still, this choice could surprise the members of his own movement. Because the latter, in an internal consultation at the end of February, had favored support … for Eric Zemmour, at 40.46%, ahead of Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, at 28.65%. “I had a mandate to negotiate, but we had to be able to contribute something. We had a friendly discussion with Eric Zemmour’s team, but no conditions could be met, ”justifies the president of the Patriots as best he can, ensuring that the agreement of the day would still be validated by his people.
United against health policy and Emmanuel Macron
For an hour, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan and Florian Philippot talk about their common points and, above all, this frontal opposition to the government’s health policy. “I would not have been a candidate if there had not been this unbearable attack on our freedoms during the Covid-19”, annoys the candidate Debout la France. “This suspension of the vaccination pass [entrée en vigueur ce lundi] is a false step back from the government because it keeps it in hospitals, and it does not remove the state of emergency [sanitaire]. In reality, he simply lengthens the leash around the neck of the French, ”he adds, targeting Emmanuel Macron.
“He is the candidate for the disappearance of our country. He represents everything we hate. I am convinced that the next ten years will see the fight for independence from France”, launches the sovereignist candidate, castigating the “great federal and Europeanist leap” of the Head of State. But on the European question, the two allies do not seem to be exactly on the same line. “I am the candidate for the referendum on leaving the EU, I have not changed my plan to negotiate a new treaty. But I never talked about Frexit because I think it needs to be replaced by something, ”says the former mayor of Yerres (Essonne). “We are wearing the Frexit, but he is the candidate. We support the closest project, out of pragmatism. There is less difference between us than between Pécresse and Ciotti ”, dodges for his part Florian Philippot, who had left the National Front in 2017 when he had postponed, then removed from his program the exit from the euro.
No specific role for Florian Philippot
During the press conference, the two men do not always seem very comfortable. Asked about the controversial statements by Florian Philippot on the war in Ukraine or his desire to “dissolve” NATO, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan prefers to kick in touch: “I do not have to comment on his statements. I am the candidate, he supports me. We can have differences of appreciation or speech. The deputy from Essonne assures in passing that he has not sealed a financial agreement between the two parties, nor assigned a specific role to his new ally. “I don’t like organizational charts. There are three and a half weeks left, we will go for it, no need for feathered leaders, “said the one who saw many of his relatives join Marine Le Pen.
In case of victory, will he still make the president of the Patriots his Prime Minister? “Don’t skip the stages, I also see that this question is ironic”, replies Dupont-Aignan. The journalists and the candidate for the Elysée are smiling. A little embarrassed, Florian Philipot adds, in a small voice: “It shouldn’t be…”