In LR, the Eric Ciotti-Laurent Vauquies duo has been weakened by the pension reform.

Laurent Vauquies “not hidden”. Olivier Marley announced the good news on RTL’s microphone this Friday, March 17. But the president of the Les Républicains (LR) group in the National Assembly is inviting his camp’s candidate for the next presidential election to break out of his splendid isolation. “I told him: he needs to be a little more represented in the national debates that interest the French… especially when it’s a debate like pensions that affects all our compatriots”, explains the deputy of Eure-et-Loir.

This opinion is shared by Eric Siott. When he mentions his friend “Laurent”The president of LR weighs his words even in private, he says “Follow His Strategy”, but mostly believes that the 2027 champion did little to help. On Tuesday, the president of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, who is in favor of pension reform, even if he considers it incomplete, gathered for breakfast six Parisian deputies from his region. . The six MPs hostile to the government’s bill, starting with Isabelle Valentin from Haute-Loire, whose deputy is Mr Vauquies.

With regard to the government’s 49.3, article of the constitution, which allows the adoption of the text without a vote, it is impossible to measure the effectiveness of the mediation strongly proposed by the Ciotti-Marleix duo, so that its supporters at least signal no. restraint. “I would vote against the reform, Laurent knows it and heard my arguments”, confides Jean-Pierre Tayte, LR deputy for the Loire issue. With Mr. Waukees entourage, we confirm the purpose of this morning’s meeting, but deny any kind of altercation with Eric Ciotis. Friendship would always be there “solid”A regular exchange and the two men had lunch together a few days ago.

Scarcity strategy

But friendship in politics does not preclude disagreements and competing agendas. Thus, while one is not about to deviate from his deficit strategy and waits for a more opportune moment to send the first pre-presidential postcard to the country, the other feels like a captain with little help in a storm. . The difference stems from the fact that Eric Ciotti expected the support of the media, which Laurent Vauquies saw neither interest nor efficiency in moving a few votes of restless deputies.

Probably not wrong, but the relationship has lost a few degrees in recent weeks. Elected to lead LR on behalf of himself and Laurent Vauquier, Eric Chiotti spends little time extolling his champion’s qualities. On January 23, he almost blushed, however, during his vow to the press: “Thank you Laurent for coming, you know the hope you represent to so many. »