Bellamy gives a rant live

POLITICS – He is not happy at all and makes it known. The head of the Republican list in the European elections François-Xavier Bellamy gave a rant live on the show The Event this Thursday, May 23, after the confrontation between Gabriel Attal and Jordan Bardella.

The MEP was on the set of France 2 to react to the debate that the channel had just broadcast, but explains that he “hesitated to come”. “I believe that what happened is in reality the sign of a fairly deep democratic crisis which is revealed in the staging that we witnessed. Because it’s staged”he tackles.

“What makes it possible to organize the confrontation between these two people, one is the Prime Minister, not even the candidate” head of the majority list Valérie Hayer, regrets François-Xavier Bellamy.

If journalist Caroline Roux recalls that the two men explained the reasons for their presence at the start of the debate, François-Xavier Bellamy directly attacks the channel: “What makes you invite them?” Voting intentions? In this case I am not pleading for myself, if we looked at the polls we should have at least invited Raphaël Glucksmann. » The latter is placed third in the polls (13.6%), just behind Valérie Hayer (16.1%). The LR list is far behind and collects 7% of voting intentions. Jordan Bardella’s National Rally list largely leads the way (31.1%).

Bellamy will be present at the June 4 debate on France 2

Caroline Roux returns to the charge, recalling that François-Xavier Bellamy responded yes to the invitation of June 4, still on France 2. “All candidates will be invited. You still see the difference. All the candidates will be there »underlines the vice-president of the Republicans.

And returns to the evening event, which definitely annoyed him a lot: “It’s extremely serious. This has been done to us so many times already. In 2017 Macron-Le Pen, in 2019 Macron-Le Pen, in 2022 Macron-Le Pen. In 2024 again we will be told that this is the subject, while sorry but nothing justifies that this evening the public service is staging this debate. Nothing. Neither the polls and especially not the reality of the European debate. »

Caroline Roux equally annoyed by what she calls a “happening” on the part of the head of the LR list, then asks if François-Xavier Bellamy agrees to comment on the debate, which is why he is on the set. But he doesn’t give up and insists: “I want to try to explain what is going on. (…) The truth is that today there are more than half of French people who do not recognize themselves in the debate we have just (attended). I came out of respect for them. »

Unsurprisingly, this rant was congratulated by the Republicans and in particular by party boss Éric Ciotti, who posted on X: “The organized media scenario of the duel between Macron and Le Pen is unbearable in a democracy like ours. François-Xavier Bellamy denounces him remarkably this evening. »

On Wednesday, the latter had also written to the audiovisual regulator Arcom to ask him “ to impose » at France Télévisions “ equal treatment » between the heads of the European lists, according to a document consulted by AFP. Before him, the First Secretary of the PS Olivier Faure had also addressed Arcom to protest against the organization of this debate, seeing it as a “ fundamental democratic problem » less than three weeks before the vote.

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