PARIS — Jean-Yves Le Drian said Oct. 16 he would stand as a Socialist candidate in the elections for the Brittany regional council, and he would also continue as defense minister during the electoral campaign as requested by president François Hollande, daily Le Figaro reported.
The highly regarded minister can fight a highly visible campaign for chairmanship of the council, but if he wins there is a rule against holding a double mandate of regional and national government positions.
Le Drian said at his speech at Lorient , northwest France, that if he won the Brittany election, seen as one of the key constituencies for the Socialists, it would be up to Hollande to decide whether he could also stay on as defense minister.
Prime Mminister Manuel Valls, when asked Sept 15 on BFM TV about Le Drian, said the rule is that council chairmen and mayors cannot also hold government posts. The regional elections, due in December, are key to the development of France around 12 new regions.
A recent opinion poll showed Le Drian, who is reported to be close to Hollande, is clearly the most popular of the ministers with 59 percent of respondents saying that they are respondants "satisfied,", ahead of foreign minister Laurent Fabius.
"All of industry says he is an excellent minister," said François Lureau of consultancy EuroFLconsult and former procurement chief. Le Drian played a key role in a sharp rise in foreign sales of arms, vital to the industrial base. Close political relations with foreign leaders were needed to win the export deals.
Soon after Le Drian took up the ministerial post in 2012, French media would asked him when he would win the first export contract for the Rafale fighter. He replied he sought to strengthen political ties, and that he was not a salesman.
France has signed arms export deals worth more than €15 billion so far this year compared to €8.3 billion in 2014, boosted by Rafale orders from Egypt and Qatar. India plans to buy 36 units and talks are advancing with the United Arab Emirates.
Le Drian won a €3.8 billion ($4.3 billion) increase in the defense budget when public finances were stretched, seen as a first, and cut a staff reduction in the services.
France has deployed combat troops across sub-Saharan Africa to fight Islamic insurgents, and is was the only other Western nation to pledge armed strike into Syria alongside the US before Washington then backed off. "He has been a really good minister," an industry executive said.
Le Drian served as chairman of the Brittany council 2004 to 2012. The Socialist government, low in the opinion polls, is looking to maintain control of regional councils against the conservative Républicain party and far right Front National.
There is the rule against the double mandate, but there also are press reports Hollande might waive that stricture if Le Drian won the regional vote, in view of the close ties the minister has with the armed forces, industry and foreign nations.
"He is a Colossus," defense official said referring to the giant statue on the island of Rhodes. "He was no show-off. He did the job".
