"We don't want to be walked all over like a rug": Macronist MPs demand Bruno Retailleau's resignation

As Bruno Retailleau and Laurent Wauquiez wrap up their campaigns to lead the Republicans, some of the Interior Minister's allies are no longer hiding their anger.

The Republicans' final day of campaigning. Bruno Retailleau and Laurent Wauquiez wrap up their party leadership campaigns on Friday, May 16. Both have pivoted far to the right to appeal to the party's more than 120,000 members who will decide between them on Sunday. Laurent Wauquiez and Bruno Retailleau are each holding their final rallies, in Jonage near Lyon and in Salon-de-Provence and Nîmes.

If elected, Bruno Retailleau intends to remain Minister of the Interior, although his rhetoric is increasingly annoying Macron's troops, as evidenced by his latest message to LR activists in recent days. In a message addressed to LR activists and revealed by Politico and Le Figaro , the Republican presidential candidate wrote: "I am an opponent of 'at the same time'. Macronism will not survive Emmanuel Macron ."

These words from Bruno Retailleau sparked outrage among many Macronist MPs, who let loose in the internal WhatsApp loop. " I propose issuing an OQTG, an obligation to leave the government team ," Eric Bothorel declared, referring to the obligation to leave the territory (OQTF), a recurring theme of this right-wing campaign. The pun was validated by several of his colleagues, especially on the left wing, who do not understand how a minister can criticize the president who appointed him and take antagonistic positions, particularly on Algeria.

" We don't want to be walked all over like a rug ," one MP fumes. " If Retailleau agreed to be nominated, it was for France, not for his personal future ," and to take his side, another counters.

Other Macronist elected officials are adding nuance: this is " not the time " to break up the government: "We need the alliance with Les Républicains," they say, hoping that the minister will tone down his tone as soon as the LR election is over. LR activists will vote online starting Saturday morning, with results expected Sunday evening.