Eric Ciotti at the National Assembly – Jacques Witt / SIPA
- In its latest edition, The chained Duck affirms that the deputy Eric Ciotti would have benefited from a “gift” of the RN on the occasion of the last legislative ones, in 2017.
- “I denounce this despicable controversy. It’s grotesque. I don’t negotiate with anyone. I am a Republican. I have a straight line. There has never been a discussion of this kind, ”supports the member for Alpes-Maritimes.
Is this a new rebound since Jean Castex put the Republicans on fire by announcing, Sunday, that LREM would not present a candidate in Paca for the benefit of Renaud Muselier? In its latest edition, The chained Duck affirms that the deputy Eric Ciotti, one of the first to have denounced this “stab in the back”, would have himself benefited from a “gift” of the RN on the occasion of the last legislative, in 2017. What he formally denies to 20 minutes.
That year, a month before the election, Philippe Vardon, candidate of Marine Le Pen’s party in the first constituency of Nice against Eric Ciotti and a walker in particular, “suddenly decided” to change, recalls the newspaper.
He finally appeared in the third, without success, and the LR deputy was reelected in his, ten points ahead of the LREM candidate. Evoking future deadlines in a text message sent last March to one of his collaborators, and that The chained Duck has transcribed, Philippe Vardon indicates not to see “the slightest reason that Ciotti benefits from the same gift as the last time”.
“Pinned up by Olivier Bettati”
In 2017, it was Olivier Bettati, unsuccessful candidate supported by the RN at the last municipal elections in Menton, who would have played the go-between. “I was the one who intervened for Ciotti. He was paralyzed, he feared losing his seat against LREM, ”assured the latter, at odds with the deputy in recent months, at the Chained Duck.
At the time of publication of these lines, Olivier Bettati had not responded to requests from 20 minutes. Eric Ciotti and Philippe Vardon, yes. “I denounce this despicable controversy. It’s grotesque. I don’t negotiate with anyone. I am a Republican. I have a straight line. There has never been a discussion of this kind, ”supports the member for Alpes-Maritimes. And to assert: “All this is blown up by Olivier Bettati, personal friend of Renaud Muselier, with whom he is negotiating a place on his list for the regional elections. “
The elected RN at the town hall of Nice admits for his part to have “simply made a choice of opportunity by going to a more interesting constituency”. With more latitude to gain in the clear. In the 3rd, he finished in the second round at 37.26%, behind the LREM candidate.