- Title: Macron's presidential challenger Pecresse would say 'non' to federal EU
- Date: 11th December 2021
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (DECEMBER 11, 2021) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** FRENCH FLAGS / FRENCH CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE, VALERIE PECRESSE WALKING ON STAGE PECRESSE REMOVING MASK, WAVING TO CROWDS VARIOUS OF SUPPORTERS WAVING FRENCH FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE, VALERIE PECRESSE, SAYING: "This unity is beautiful, and I'm committed, so let me tell you, we will be one for all, and all for one!" SUPPORTERS WAVING FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE, VALERIE PECRESSE, SAYING: "I hear some of our German partners suggest that the European Union should evolve into a federal state. I hear that the rule of unanimity should be abandoned for foreign policy. Politely, but firmly, I will say "no". I am for the Europe of the United Nations and against the federal Europe. I don't want a new Brexit, but for that we need a Europe of naiveté, to build a powerful Europe. Yes, I want to put an end to this sieve-like Europe, to build a Europe which controls its borders, a political Europe and no longer a bureaucratic one." PECRESSE SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE, VALERIE PECRESSE, SAYING: "With you, I dream of seeing our country rediscover its invincible unity, but also the smile that belongs to the people who are on their feet and succeeding. I preach to you and to all French people, I will give everything, my determination, my passion, the courage to act, but also tenderness for this country which deserves to be comforted and respected." (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE, VALERIE PECRESSE, SAYING: "So there it is, this is what I want, this is what I propose to you, this is why I'm fighting, with all the determination of a free Frenchwoman, a Frenchwoman who has freedom, equality, fraternity in her heart, who proclaims, with you, with strength, long live the Republic, and long live France!" VARIOUS OF SUPPORTERS CHANTING
- Embargoed: 25th December 2021 17:55
- Keywords: France Pecresse election rally
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- City: PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Europe,Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA001F7LDGZR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: EDIT AND SHOTLIST UPDATED TO INCLUDE PECRESSE SPEAKING ON EUROPE
The conservative candidate who has emerged as Emmanuel Macron's most serious challenger for next year's presidential election kicked off her campaign on Saturday (December 11) by announcing she would resist German calls for a federal European superstate.
Valerie Pecresse, who has described herself as "1/3 Thatcher, 2/3 Merkel," was the surprise winner of the leadership contest of the conservative Les Republicains party last weekend, and has since got a big bounce in opinion polls.
In her first campaign rally as the candidate of a party that traces its roots to Charles de Gaulle, Pecresse said she wanted the EU to preserve the independence of nation states and not become a federal super state, like the United States.
Historically, French conservatives have been in favor of European integration in the economic field, such as creating the euro or the single market, but have resisted attempts to shift decision-making to the EU level on sensitive sovereign issues such as foreign policy and defense.
The agreement forming Germany's new governing coalition under Chancellor Olaf Scholz says the EU should aim to move toward a "federal European state" after a constitutional convention within the EU.
Pecresse also said she did not want France to be what she called a vassal of the United States, did not want to see another country exit the EU as Britain did and would work with Scholz despite his left-wing majority.
Pecresse, who heads the greater Paris region and was a minister in Nicolas Sarkozy's last conservative government, was cheered by a poll this week that showed she would beat Macron by a 52-48 margin if she reached the presidential run-off in April.
The poll was the first to project Macron losing the April 24 second round since Pecresse won the center-right ticket on Saturday. She is vying with far-right contenders Marine Le Pen and Eric Zemmour for a place in the second round, however. Macron has yet to officially declare his candidacy.
(Produciton: Clotaire Achi, Yiming Woo) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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