Gérald Darmanin, in an interview with La Voix du Nord on Thursday, believes that a Marine Le Pen victory in the 2027 presidential election is “quite likely” if the majority lets go of “a working-class and middle-class majority” at the helm of the party RN.
“The fact is that in five years, Madame Le Pen is very likely to win. With that in mind, we only need one candidate. And that we don’t just rely on the winners of globalization and the elected representatives of inner cities, because that doesn’t make up 51% of the vote,” judges Mr. Darmanin.
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“If we miss out on a majority of the working and middle classes at Marine Le Pen, the top managers will not get us into the second round,” stressed the interior minister.
Mr Darmanin is organizing his first political return on Sunday in his adopted stronghold of Tourcoing (North), where several ministers and several dozen parliamentarians are expected, a few weeks after the ministerial reshuffle and Elisabeth Borne’s assumption of office in Matignon.
“On Sunday I will say that the social question is essential. That is why Marine Le Pen will be elected in 2027, not the migration issue. Let’s remember that in 2007 Nicolas Sarkozy was elected not because of his national identity, but because of the issue of work. That’s why we have to tackle it,” emphasizes Mr. Darmanin.
“I have some ideas of what the working class is waiting for: a return to authority in schools and on the streets, more solidity in the justice system and in the police force. People also want to be able to live off the fruits of their labor,” explains the minister.
The former Republican (LR) leader, who sided with Emmanuel Macron in 2017, “advocates, for example, a delay in reducing production taxes for companies” and wants “a portion” of them to make “efforts” on salaries.
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“I want to add that we have to worry about a new proletariat made up of all these single parents who can’t make it. What was wrong with the pension reform was that they were actually being asked to work more in the current conditions,” he adds.
Asked about the recent reshuffle, Mr. Darmanin affirms that he “always believed that the President of the Republic would not change government.” It was far too early. We change it if we have difficulties in Parliament or lose an election.”
But he says he gets “frustrated at times” because he can’t voice his “political opinions”. “I told the President that you have to let your sensitivities run wild. I don’t have what Bruno Le Maire has, that doesn’t prevent me from enjoying being in government with him.”
“I received from the President that I can better express my sensitivity on Sunday,” assures Mr. Darmanin, whose political offensive is accelerating the calendar within the majority, while Emmanuel Macron will not be able to self-regulate in 2027 represent.
“2027 is still a long way off,” replied Elisabeth Borne on Wednesday, while Stéphane Séjourné, leader of the Renaissance presidential party, judged that “ideas must come before egos”.