By-election in Paris: before the LR investiture committee, Rachida Dati tackled Michel Barnier's "personal ambitions"

The Minister of Culture spoke before the National Council of Ministers (CNI) after Michel Barnier, former Prime Minister, was sworn in on Monday for the partial legislative election in the 2nd constituency of Paris.

The current Minister of Culture and declared candidate for mayor of Paris, as well as now a dissident LR candidate for the partial legislative election in Paris, Rachida Dati, tackled on Monday July 28 before the national LR investiture commission the "personal ambitions" of Michel Barnier, candidate nominated by the party, according to a transcript of her speech obtained by franceinfo.

"The presidential election is not the same as the municipal election. And personal ambitions must not sabotage the only prospects for victory we have had for 20 years," she declared Monday afternoon before the commission, according to information from franceinfo.

"One morning, I was told that one of our members wanted to return to the National Assembly, not to serve Paris, but to prepare a presidential candidacy," added the minister, referring to Michel Barnier's candidacy. "I did not start the division. But I will not give in to those whose only plan is to get elected on my back. Because they cannot win alone."

"The only question that should matter is whether our political family truly wants to win Paris ," she added. "And you know that I am the only one who can do that." "Paris deserves better than internal score-settling," concluded Rachida Dati.

In a press release, the CNI outlined a path to avoid a fratricidal duel that the party is accustomed to, recognizing that Rachida Dati is "best placed" for the municipal elections in Paris next March. This body thus appointed Agnès Evren, the president of the LR federation in Paris, the largest in the party, to "lead discussions" with the Minister of Culture "and build a unifying list" for the municipal elections.