“The fact is that, in five (sic) years, a victory for Madame Le Pen is quite likely” if the presidential camp “let go a majority of the working and middle classes” on the side of the National Rally (RN), believes Gérald Darmanin in an interview granted Thursday, August 24 to La Voix du Nord.
“Faced with this, we will only need one candidate. And that we do not rely only on the winners of globalization and the elected officials of the city centers, because that does not make 51% of the votes, ”judges the Minister of the Interior. “If we let a majority of the working and middle classes slip away at Marine Le Pen, the senior executives will not take us to the second round. »
Mr. Darmanin is organizing his first political comeback on Sunday in his electoral stronghold of Tourcoing (North), where several ministers and dozens of parliamentarians are expected, a few weeks after the cabinet reshuffle and the maintenance of Elisabeth Borne at Matignon.
“On Sunday, I will say that the social question is essential. That’s what would get Marine Le Pen elected in 2027, not the migration issue. In 2007, let us remember, Nicolas Sarkozy was not elected on national identity, but on the question of work. So we have to tackle it, ”insists Mr. Darmanin.
“I have some ideas about what the working classes are waiting for: a return of authority in schools and on the streets, more firmness in justice and law enforcement. People are also demanding to be able to live off the fruit of their labor,” the minister explains.
“Sometimes frustrated”
The former leader of the Republicans (LR), rallied to Emmanuel Macron in 2017, “pleads, for example, for the postponement of the reduction in production taxes for companies” and wishes that “some” of them make ” efforts” regarding salaries. “I would add that we have to worry about a new proletariat made up of all these single-parent families who are not making it. What was wrong with the pension reform was that they were in effect being asked to work more under current conditions. »
Asked about the recent reshuffle, Mr. Darmanin assures that he “always thought that the President of the Republic would not change government. It was way too early. We change it when we have difficulties in Parliament or lose an election.” But he says he is “sometimes frustrated” at not being able to state his “political opinion”. “I said to the president, you have to let the sensitivities come out. I don’t have the same as Bruno Le Maire, that doesn’t prevent me from enjoying being in government with him. »
“I got from the president that I could express my sensitivity more on Sunday,” says Mr. Darmanin, whose political offensive is accelerating the timetable within the majority, while in 2027 Emmanuel Macron will not be able to stand again.
“2027 is a long way off,” Elisabeth Borne retorted on Wednesday, while Stéphane Séjourné, secretary general of the Renaissance presidential party, judges that “ideas must come before egos”.