François Hollande supports Hidalgo and tackles Sarkozy in the process – The HuffPost

via Associated PressAt a meeting in Limoges, Anne Hidalgo was joined by François Hollande who did not fail to tackle his predecessor for his lack of support for Valérie Pécresse. POLITICS – The rescue operation is launched at the PS. With the approach of the first round of the presidential election, François Hollande came to support the candidate of the Socialist Party this Tuesday, March 22 during a meeting in Limoges, in Haute-Vienne. And the least we can say is that the former President of the Republic did not mince his words when he arrived on stage alongside Anne Hidalgo. In a turn of phrase of which he has the secret, François Hollande slipped a barely concealed tackle to Nicolas Sarkozy, whose support for the candidate LR Valérie Pécresse is still awaited. “I still vote socialist. I am faithful and loyal, especially when it is difficult. What would we have said if I had been silent? I leave that to others, or rather another who has never been an example for me”, declared the former tenant of the Élysée. A small sentence which allows him in passing to justify his presence and his official support for the PS candidate for the 2022 presidential election. François Hollande tackles Nicolas Sarkozy in Limoges: “I always vote socialist. I am loyal. Especially when it’s hard. What would we have said if I had been silent. I say that for others, and especially for another who has never been an example for me. »@LCI@TF1Info#Hidalgopic.twitter.com/cenm6mJRf4— Matthieu Karmann (@MatthieuKarmann) March 22, 2022Necessary support to prove the unity of the socialist camp around the current mayor of Paris, who is still struggling to take off in the polls within three weeks of the first round. Anne Hidalgo is currently capping around 2.5% in the polls. A promise for the future of the left? François Hollande had been discreet in recent weeks in his support for Anne Hidalgo, when he himself was tempted to embark on the race for the Élysée. Their last appearance together dates back to November 2021, during a trip by Anne Hidalgo to the city of Tulle, the historic stronghold of François Hollande. During his appearance on stage, François Hollande reiterated his request for additional sanctions against Russia, in the context of the war in Ukraine. “How can we admit, when the Russian army is bombing Ukraine, that it is still possible to buy gas and oil with our euros?, he asked in front of an audience of more than 400 people. The former head of state called for “pursuing the great movement which is called socialism, and which has not ended its journey”, during this meeting. “It’s up to us to be there the day after the election”, he continued, adding that “an initiative will have to be taken to rebuild the left of responsibility”. “The election will determine the very conditions for recovery” of the left of government, declared Mr. Holland, adding: “I will take all my share there”. Anne Hidalgo hailed “strong words” that “touch me”, paying a long tribute to the presidency of François Hollande, from the fight against terrorism to that against global warming. See also on The HuffPost: Dati is ironic on the poll that gives Hidalgo at 1.5%