For a party that is losing credibility and struggling to renew its leadership, the idea of turning to figures from civil society or renowned for their professionalism may seem appealing. When it's a General, even more so... Not to mention the hope of keeping the military vote for LR.
Nevertheless, things got off to a bad start with General Gomart and this choice is far from being unanimously approved by the military personnel themselves. Indeed, there was first of all that highly controversial photograph of a General entering partisan life, in uniform... A fairly obvious blurring of boundaries that immediately gives a bad impression.
There is also the question of whether General Gomart was the right military man to give the LR list a boost (which desperately needs it) in the European elections. Several indicators suggest that the answer is no.
The General is far from winning unanimous support among the military personnel themselves. Regarded as «full of himself», a «troublemaker» and believing that he is going to «revolutionise the system», He is considered above all to be an opportunist. Indeed, was it not François Hollande who appointed him Director of Military Intelligence? Was he not considered close to Jean-Yves Le Drian? And as such, associated with all the fiascos of French policy in Africa and Syria?
Lastly, there is one place where he is particularly heavily criticised: at the DGSE. Indeed, he is also the one who tried to «kill» the latter's Action service and transfer everything to the Special Operations Command.
Was it really a good idea, Eric Ciotti? What will his commitment in the European Parliament be if he happens to be elected? We must wish FX Bellamy the best of luck! Credited with 10 to 15% of the votes during the European campaign in 2019, he ultimately obtained 8.5% of the votes. Many saw this as the effect of the handicap represented by Laurent Wauquiez's unpopularity. The latter actually had the courage to resign, drawing the consequences of this very poor result. Today, it is the «Ciotti albatross» that FX Bellamy has to drag around and hope it won't prove fatal to him.
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