Great LR debate: wind power, “great replacement”, sail … these subjects which divided the candidates – LCI

“We have the right to have differences”, defended Valérie Pécresse when she had just given arguments different from those exposed a few minutes earlier by Xavier Bertrand. Security, immigration, nuclear … This Monday evening, the five candidates for the LR congress for the presidential nomination have often shown themselves to be in agreement. But the discussions were a little more lively and opinions diverged on three subjects: wind power, the theory of “great replacement” and the ban on the wearing of the veil for minors.

While they all agree to build new EPRs and give pride of place to nuclear power in energy production, wind power has created dissension. Xavier Bertrand, in particular, was virulent towards these “damn wind turbines”. Would he build new wind turbines if he was elected? “Without the opinion of the people? Do you know a lot of promoters who have their houses at the foot of wind turbines? France are landscapes, we are in the process of massacring landscapes”, he replied, adding that he would put “an end to this anarchic development of wind power”.

His opponents, however, were less categorical. The president of the Ile-de-France region Valérie Pécresse, in favor of “zero carbon by 2050”, believes that it is not possible to “to do without nuclear power to achieve this goal, but neither do wind turbines”. “We will have to make wind power, but with the consent of the populations. I am sensitive to two things: the preservation of fishing areas and landscapes. But there are areas of France in which we can put money. wind, especially at sea, but with the consent of the populations. “

“I want 50% renewable energy in 2050. How do we get there?”, continued Philippe Juvin. “By offshore wind power, a big plan for the next 20 years on offshore wind power”, he explained. He also spoke in favor of a moratorium on onshore wind turbines: “In 20 years, land-based wind turbines will have reached the end of their life, we are taking them apart and no longer installing them”, he estimated. Michel Barnier declared himself against the“wind power if there is no local agreement” to build wind turbines.

Another subject of contention: the “great replacement”, a theory taken up by the extreme right and considering the substitution of one population by another inevitable. There, it is the member of the Alpes-Maritimes who found himself alone against all. Eric Ciotti is the only one to assume the use of these terms. “I am not afraid of words, if it is necessary to speak of great replacement, I speak of replacement. It is the commentators who have prevented us from looking at reality. Some no longer dare to say what they see out of fear. political correctness. In this campaign I want to destroy political correctness. “

On the other hand, Michel Barnier does not wish to use this word. “I don’t like this expression, because it is used by a person who does not have the same history as us, who confuses Pétain with de Gaulle and who has a vision of permanent stigmatization in society”, he explained, targeting Eric Zemmour. Valérie Pécresse also assured that she hated “This expression because it gives the feeling that everything is screwed up. It gives the feeling that today we can sit down and nothing will happen. It is not my view of politics.” “I share the opinion of Valérie Pécresse, to use this expression is to imply that it is ruined”, added Philippe Juvin. As for Xavier Bertrand, he did not answer this question.

Finally, the five candidates disagreed on the ban on the wearing of the veil for minors, a proposal made by Eric Ciotti. “How to conceive that the veil, which is a sign of submission of the woman, is imposed on the girls?”, questioned the one who is also against the wearing of the veil at the university and for its ban for school guides.

Valérie Pécresse, even if she considers the veil as a “instrument of submission”, is not for a ban on all minors, but only in case of “wearing of the forced veil”, that is “when a teenage girl, a woman, is forced to wear it “. “There could be remedies for teenage girls forced into their families to wear the veil”, she explained. Michel Barnier formulated the “same answer as Valérie Pécresse”. For Philippe Juvin, “It is difficult in a democracy to organize a dress code which is regulated by law, on the other hand we must not leave things like this, the veil is not a manifestation of freedom”. Here again, Xavier Bertrand acknowledged that “on the question of girls, yes there is a subject”, but did not speak out for or against a ban on the wearing of the veil for minors.