George Bush’s French enemy flirts with a presidential offer – Politico

“We must be able to put a political and diplomatic proposal on the table which would be the roadmap for Europeans and Ukrainians … If this plan or this roadmap is too loose or not clear enough, not affirmed enough, we negotiate with our back to the wall,” said Villepin.

De Villepin agrees with Macron’s current thrust to move forward, as well as partners sharing the same ideas, apart from the European Union structures to deal with urgent issues such as spouse to finance increased defense expenses.

Countries with high debt and overly extinct budgets, such as France, Spain and Italy, have long recommended common loans as the only way to considerably increase defense spending, but the idea is politically toxic to more conservative countries tax in Northern Europe.

Can he win?

The last incursion of the former Prime Minister in politics dates back a presidential offer failed in 2012. However, although he is not actively engaged in politics, or perhaps because of this, from Villepin recently exceeded the respected classification of French politicians, before presidential hopes such as the heavyweight of the center-right Edouard Philippe.

However, as this same investigation shows, the translation of this popularity into votes is probably in the long term. If from Villepin was to set up a race, he would find the political space on which he could hope to build has considerably shrunk. His former party, the Republicans, is a shell of his former self after having bled the adhesion to the centrist movement of President Emmanuel Macron and the national rally of the far right.

Bruno Retailleau, the Minister of the Interior, is undoubtedly the most popular figure of Les Républicains is the most popular figure in Les Républicains. Retailleau puts an attempt to direct the Republicans and see an eye on the presidency in 2027.