The center-right city councilman in suburban Paris discusses the opposition center-right UMP party's future (original op-ed in French): "On November 18 or 25, the UMP's new leader will be known: Jean-Francois Cope or François Fillon. Activists expect for this election to go beyond the campaign talk.
The UMP doctrine should clearly affirm its commitment to republican values and to the French nation, highlighting the three principles that underpin our Republic: liberty, equality and fraternity.
These three principles should govern our patriotic movement, which is not the National Front's brand of nationalism. While both liberty and fraternity can be of variable geometry, the UMP should encourage equality among citizens by showing that equality is the focal point of responsibility that allows people to organize their lives. Personal responsibility doesn't preclude an attachment to collective responsibility on behalf of republican patriotism and citizenship."
While the National Front has made some strides in France, Mr. Pambou rejects his party incorporating some the NF's ideology in order to increase its political power: "If we go further on the strictly political front, we must reject alliances against nature. Our movement oscillates between the temptation to work with the National Front and another temptation to observe strict neutrality. As a governing party, UMP must have a very clear opinion on this issue that doesn't arouse any suspicion. The UMP has the duty to say no to the National Front, following the Juppé doctrine."
Lucien Pambou: "Our Center-Right Party Shouldn't Entertain An Alliance With French White Nationalists"
