The Government members necessarily the less free speech than others

They should be received tomorrow night at the Elysee Palace by Nicolas Sarkozy. And in the process, they must refine with Xavier Bertrand national put forward during the campaign themes. But on the ground, heads list of the majority in the regional elections of March have already made their choice. All relay criticism of the "fiscal folly" Socialist regions and make proposals on employment; Many speak environment after the success of the environmentalists in the past the European. Rare are those, however, dealing with the debate on the "national identity", designed with big statements by Nicolas Sarkozy and Eric Besson, to capture the electorate of the national Front.

Among the candidates interviewed by "Les Echos", Raymond Couderc, head of the list in Languedoc-Roussillon, is of exception. "If we do not have the courage to address the issue, without hatred, without invective, it is the national Front which will make its fatty cabbages." "When the"Marseillaise"is occurs, people are disappointed", explains elected UMP in a region where the FN is always threatening. But in the Paca, where the extreme right is even stronger, Thierry Mariani is formal: "I do not how could campaign on national identity." Do not be mistaken: it is a regional election! "I am in a region where immigration is high but it should not use it do anything and everything goes." Fear of making the game of the extreme right or certainty that its right-image is sufficient "My profile is known," he said, assuring however that this debate "is the discomfort not".

"It is political film".

Raymond Archer, he does not want to hear, considering that "it is political film" own to remobilise the electorate of left. Candidate in Limousin, he focuses on "the economy, the environment, aging".

Between those who assume without complex and those who consider the "national identity" counterproductive, most prefer to ignore this theme. "There is a lot of other topics to discuss," scans Caroline Cayeux (Picardie). "It is to the prefects to deal with," slip Laurent Hénart (Lorraine) which means "respond to the concerns of the people: labour and taxation". "What structure the thinking of people today, it is less security and national identity than the employment and the economy." "There are cycles," abounds with Hervé Novelli, head of the list in the Centre, who has not attended debates in Prefecture. "Tax break", "support to the farmers" and development of the reforms relating to employment... the only "identity" that Secretary of State for trade and crafts seeks to promote is "regional". Even if he adds cautiously that national identity is "a debate is entitled to have."

The Government members, necessarily, the less free speech than others. To mean that the "national identity" can be a carrier theme in his campaign, the Labour Minister, Xavier Darcos, regularly reminds that the Aquitaine is a "region of radical tradition." The Minister of Agriculture, Bruno Le Maire, has never shown appetite for the "national identity"-"each sensitivity", entrusts - but he did publicly known reserves only after several mistakes, holding "useful two conditions" debate: "respect" of the other and taking into account of Europe. How to hope a real reframing.