Forced to officially abandon his presidency of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, due to non-cumulative mandates following his election as deputy (Les Républicains, LR) of Haute-Loire, Laurent Wauquiez retains control of the management of the second largest region from France, according to numerous clues, and he really doesn’t hide it. As of September 5, the day of the election of Fabrice Pannekoucke (LR) by the regional assembly to succeed him, a new organizational chart of the regional majority was presented to those elected, elevating Laurent Wauquiez to the status of “special advisor.” An innovative title in its practice, never seen in the memory of a regional advisor, whose contours have not been formally specified, but which now allows Laurent Wauquiez to intervene very frequently alongside the president of the region.
For three months, special advisor Wauquiez has appeared in most of the media outlets spread throughout the region. Whether for the launch of a regional mutual fund or for the evaluation of the reindustrialization of the territory, the presentation text of the press releases is framed by two quotes, that of the current president and that of the “special advisor”.
Same configuration when filming a video that extols the merits of regional politics, broadcast on social networks. Laurent Wauquiez appears alongside Fabrice Pannekoucke on October 21 and even concludes the sequence. On Tuesday, November 19, Porte de Versailles, in Paris, Laurent Wauquiez speaks at the lectern behind the official president, during the mayors’ evening, organized by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region at the Congress of Mayors.
“Our battle is the region”
Sometimes the special advisor doesn’t care about protocol. On October 12, Laurent Wauquiez was filmed alone in a private charter institute in Haute-Loire, after a fire. “Our battle is the region. “She’s there when things are good, she’s there when things are bad.”he said in the institutional video, announcing himself the release of 200,000 euros for repair work.
A month later, the press release cites Wauquiez as second on the list of personalities present at the friendship day with Armenia. He passes in front of four vice presidents of the region, including Nicolas Daragon, vice president in charge of finances and also minister delegate for daily security.
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