humor, pause or worry… Words of the French on Saturday at the Élysée, during the Heritage Days

The new government and the political situation are also of interest to the French, who are taking advantage of the Heritage Days this weekend. Particularly in Paris, where thousands of people were queuing on Saturday to visit the Élysée Palace, the presidential residence and seat of power par excellence.

The visit to the Élysée Palace, open to the public for the Heritage Days, begins in one of the French gardens, crossed by a long queue. Arnaud stamps his feet in front of a fountain. “This is a first timehe confides. We had been trying to come and do the tour for a long time and this year we were lucky enough to be able to sign up.”

For Arnaud, the context matters little, “It’s really a day of heritage discovery”. He admits to being “a little” tired of politics and not wanting to talk about it. Just behind him, in the queue, Adissa, an engineer in her forties, feels “privileged to be here”. “It’s the seat of power in France, so it’s an opportunity, an exceptional place. You don’t go there every day,” she emphasizes. The Élysée Palace, a place outside of time, cut off from the noise of the city, for Arnaud her husband, who describes “truly an island in the heart of everyday life”. He does not hide having “small hope of meeting the president” to give him his “CV to be Prime Minister”, he jokes. When asked about the fact that the occupant of Matignon has already been chosen, he adds: “I’m not sure he has a long life expectancy so I’m keeping my CV handy.”

Michel Barnier is the man for the job, believes his neighbour Mouad, 24. “Honestly, I don’t see a person who is better placed for this position, because of their experience, their history as a negotiator, someone who knows how to compromise. That’s what is required in this somewhat difficult context. I think we are in a deadlock situation. It’s a mandate where we can’t govern easily, move forward on projects that are supposed to change the lives of the French. It’s complicated.”he sighs. For the consultant, visiting the Élysée, symbol of the Republic, has something reassuring about it. “The Republic is something that is stable, regardless of the presidents and governments that follow one another, he believes. This allows us to stay focused on the essentials in this somewhat tense political context.”

A very hushed atmosphere reigns in the corridors of the palace, visitors pass from one room to another whispering. “It’s golden, there are a lot of things, it’s really very impressive,” one of them comments in a low voice, particularly astonished by “the grandeur, the ceilings, the chandeliers, the furniture, the history that comes with the different offices.” There is no guide to lead the tour, but there are explanatory signs that Caroline reads carefully: “This is the Salon des Fougères. This is Madame Macron’s office.”. She notices “the little armchairs” that she finds “quite cosy while being quite discreet, like Madame Macron”.

Jean, for his part, is not impressed but rather concerned about the fate of the new Barnier government. “I don’t see who can plan ahead. We are looking for a balance and as a result, I am quite pessimistic about the choice of options, whatever they may be, that could be taken for France. And besides, what is a little surprising, it is an understatementhe emphasizes, “It is that, for the moment, we are more interested in the choice of names than in the definition of policy.”

Despite the political instability born of the dissolution, Isidore, a young pharmacist, wants to believe in it. “I think he can get through it, we have to give it time and see what happens. And the president will decide in a year whether he re-dissolves or not.”

All this seems far away for Lenaig and her grandmother Danielle, who came specially from Brittany to admire the gold of the presidential palace. “Today, we forget a little about the political situation. We will get back to real life tomorrow”the eldest decides. “That’s exactly what I said to myselfsupports his granddaughter. I take a break, I admire and I try to appreciate the visit”She concludes, for now, we’re enjoying ourselves.