Christian Jacob and Gérard Larcher from the right-wing Republicans have brought together the party's potential candidates for next year's French presidential election, Bruno Retailleau, Laurent Wauquiez, Valérie Pécresse and Michel Barnier, in an attempt to revive a spirit of "unity" in the run-up to the vote. Notably absent in Pariswas ex-LR candidate Xavier Bertrand who has already thrown his hat into the ring. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES