Europeans: “All those who claim that we don’t need Europe are liars”, criticizes Bayrou

Time is running out for the presidential camp, a month and a half before the European elections. While the head of the list Valérie Hayer remains eight to ten points ahead of Jordan Bardella in the polls, François Bayrou wants to sound the alarm. Invited on Sunday to the “Grand Jury RTL-Le Figaro-M6-Paris Première”, the boss of MoDem called on the French to “take the measure” of the “danger” which would hover over the European Union.

“Putin has triggered a movement that spans the entire planet, that is to say the return to the time when violence was the law,” he explained. What China is making sound like a threat towards Taiwan, what happened on October 7, is the same movement.” And to shoot an arrow in the direction of the Insoumis and the National Rally (RN): “All those who claim that we do not need Europe are liars or even crooks.”

Emmanuel Macron's historic ally, however, refuses to enter the national arena, targeting Jordan Bardella's troops by name, as certain supporters of the head of state recommended. “I have never been in favor of shining the spotlight on the RN because you are providing it with a tremendous service,” he explained, warning against the risk of “making it the sole subject of the campaign.” And ironically: “I would love it if every morning the political parties said: “François Bayrou, it’s still a risk…”

While Valérie Hayer's list must still be revealed by the end of the month, François Bayrou does not rule out taking part in the casting "in a non-eligible position". “If I am needed, I will be there,” assured the High Commissioner for Planning. In any case, this is an avenue put forward by the head of state, who would like to see the names of the leaders of the majority parties appear at the end of the list. Way of uniting behind the candidacy of the MEP, still unknown to the general public.

As for his personal destiny, François Bayrou returned to his unfinished ambitions during the reshuffle last February. After announcing that he would not join the government “for lack of deep agreement” on the policy to follow, the mayor of Pau assures that he did not receive an offer for the Ministry of National Education at the time. “If it had been offered to me, I would have accepted,” he confided.