Xavier Bertrand tackles Gérald Darmanin after his reaction to the possible ineligibility of Marine Le Pen

A former interior minister should not say that. This is what Xavier Bertrand thinks, after Gérald Darmanin's reaction to the Paris prosecutor's requisitions against Marine Le Pen. On X, the former top cop in France judged “deeply shocking” that the leader of the RN be prevented from running in the next elections, while she is threatened with a five-year ineligibility sentence. “He should not have said that, especially a former Minister of the Interior”estimated Xavier Bertrand on RTL.

The two men are, however, very close, as the president of Hauts-de-France affirms. “I have a lot of respect and affection for him”assures the former mayor of Saint-Quentin (Aisne), who challenges Gérald Darmanin to go “at the end of his thoughts” by filing a “proposed law to remove ineligibility”. “In the meantime, the law exists. It applies to everyone and no one is above the law.added Xavier Bertrand.

Marine Le Pen, a “weathervane”

The unsuccessful candidate for the right-wing primary in 2021 returned to the facts alleged against Marine Le Pen: “If the European Parliament has been wronged, it is our taxes that have been misused. Who is responsible for this? This is what the court will decide, not with the requisitions, but with the decisions.” In the event of conviction of the nationalist who would thus be prevented from running in the 2027 presidential election, Xavier Bertrand refutes everything “denial of democracy”. “They have a replacement candidate, his name is Bardella and he is just waiting for that”he continued, before mocking the “great act of hypocrisy” of the president of the RN.

The president of Hauts-de-France criticizes Marine Le Pen for “double standards”. As proof, he cites his comments dating back to 2004. “We are fed up with these elected officials who embezzle money”declared the nationalist, in reference to the conviction of Alain Juppé to a sentence of ineligibility in the affair of fictitious jobs at Paris town hall. “A pleasant reason that a wind blows at all times. Is that the definition of weathervane? No, that’s Madame Le Pen’s definition too.”asserted Xavier Bertrand.