Three quarters of an hour: this is the time that François Hollande’s intervention lasted, during Anne Hidalgo’s meeting. 45 minutes, it’s no longer an introduction, it’s not even a first part, but a hold-up in which the former President of the Republic indulged.
It is true that his support was eagerly awaited in the socialist camp. Since the start of the campaign, he had distilled more criticism than compliments towards the mayor of Paris. But this time, it’s done: his support is now official. Finally, his support… The word is perhaps a bit strong. “I’m here first because I’m grateful, said Francois Hollande. I know what I owe the Socialist Party. I’m here because I’m a socialist, and as a socialist – I’ll let you in on a secret – I always vote socialist.”
“I’m here because I’m faithful and loyal, especially when it’s hard.”
Francois Hollandeduring Anne Hidalgo’s meeting in Limoges
It happens, in rhetoric, that speech is less eloquent than silences. François Hollande tells us that he supports Anne Hidalgo out of gratitude, tradition and loyalty to the Socialist Party. What he does not tell us is that he supports her because he thinks she would make a good President of the Republic, because he considers her proposals relevant, and even less because he considers that she can win. In short, Anne Hidalgo could have done without such support.
If he had not come to sincerely support his candidate, why was he there? A word, which came up a lot in François Hollande’s speech, gives us a little clue: “I find you, here in Limoges, with happiness” “I measure” “I must make this confession to you” “I still remember” “I remember” “I do not forget” “I announce it to you” “I assures you” “I welcome it” “I know some” “I’m here”…
It is a real surge of “I” that we witnessed in the speech of François Hollande: obviously, the former head of state had come above all to talk about himself and his proposals for France.
“First a negotiation on wages. The increase in the Smic cannot take the place of protection. Secondly, we will also have to index pensions. We will also have to further develop energy savings. We will need a tax contribution on the most favoredhe listed. There are simply priorities to be established. The first is necessarily education. The second is energy mutation. And finally, there is health.
It is a real presidential program that François Hollande has sketched out, not that of Anne Hidalgo, but his own, his own vision of the future of the country. In fact, he had come to Limoges to present his candidacy… for the takeover of the Socialist Party. And besides, he does not hide it: “An initiative will have to be taken the day after the ballot and before the legislative elections, to rebuild the left of responsibility. The vitality of our republic depends on it, which cannot be deprived of the hope of alternation and waiting for a change.”
“I will take my full part in it, because it is the whole meaning of my life.”
Francois Hollandeduring Anne Hidalgo’s meeting in Limoges
Once again, here, the silences speak louder than the words. François Hollande wishes “rebuilding the left of responsibility” the day after the election: it is therefore that, according to him, Anne Hidalgo has finished deconstructing it. He cannot bring himself to see the Republic being “deprived of the hope of alternation” : way of saying that the current candidate has no hope of being elected.
Let’s be frank: what François Hollande tells us here is not likely to cause our amazement. He is not the first to produce such a political analysis. But, precisely, that is the whole difference. François Hollande is an actor in the political game. By speaking, he does not produce analyses: he performs acts. Tuesday in Limoges, he began to loot the rubble of Anne Hidalgo’s candidacy, at the opening of Anne Hidalgo’s meeting. With such friends, the mayor of Paris definitely doesn’t need enemies!