The former Prime Minister considered the hypothesis of a debate between Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen before the European elections “surprising” and not necessarily “necessary”. He stages, in small touches, his conflict with the head of state.
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Less than two weeks before the European elections, Édouard Philippe no longer spares his criticism of Emmanuel Macron. As the probable defeat of the majority looms, the former Prime Minister seems to distance himself. Sunday May 26, he judged “surprising” that the Head of State proposes a televised debate to Marine Le Pen, adding: “I’m not sure I would have spontaneously imagined that this would be a good idea…”. Last week, when the Head of State flew to New Caledonia, which was placed in a state of emergency, Édouard Philippe became a real lesson giver. Building on his past management of the issue, he had hoped for presidential announcements “up to par” and repeated that in this “terribly sad and dangerous situation”the top priority was to find a “political agreement”. A real discourse on the method.
In the entourage of the President of the Republic, there is no hiding a certain exasperation. Especially since Édouard Philippe made this outing during a meeting in support of the majority list. “What would it have been like in a meeting of opponents…” sighs an advisor to the head of state. Emmanuel Macron has a passion for the Gunslingershe knows the dialogues by heart, and as Lino Ventura said in the film: This Édouard “start breaking them small”!
The former Prime Minister chose this strategy, firstly because he considers that the majority’s campaign is being conducted against common sense. He wants to protect himself from the collision scheduled for June 9. And above all, Édouard Philippe is preparing for the future. He emancipates himself, because he knows that the post-Macron era will begin the day after the Europeans. With a President who cannot run again, the issue of succession will immediately arise in the minds of the majority leaders.
Édouard Philippe takes the lead and stages, in small touches, his conflict with the head of state. It is by appearing as a candidate for breaking with the incumbent that he thinks he has the best chance of winning in 2027, a bit like Nicolas Sarkozy after Jacques Chirac 2007. A strategy which makes the entourage of the leader of the state. At the Élysée, we consider that Édouard Philippe has a crippling handicap: he is a “Juppeist”. That is to say, he believes that power falls from above. In short, he can be named, as was the case at Matignon. But would be unable to campaign and be elected…
