You may have noticed that little has been heard from the members of the government since their appointment on May 20. This is not the result of chance, but of a desire at the Elysée as at Matignon to limit speaking. “Because they are very afraid of blunders”entrusts a communicator already there in the previous mandate. “We feel them feverish”abounds another who acknowledges that the line so far was “to avoid long formats to avoid risks”. That is to say, any electorally expensive exit from the road, before the first round of the legislative elections.
So much so that Elisabeth Borne, herself a candidate in Calvados, declined invitations to debate against her competitors, whether local or national. Officially for scheduling reasons. In her defense, she is not the only one: Marine Le Pen, candidate in Pas-de-Calais, also refuses to debate against her rivals, as revealed by the ecologist Marine Tondelier, candidate for the same constituency. .
Marine #The pen who refuses to take part in the debate @F3north wanted to organize for #legislative…
(As #Macron presidential)
What is she afraid of?
To have to face the truth ⤵️#NUPES pic.twitter.com/u40dfmh90v
— Marine Tondelier (@marinetondelier) June 2, 2022
So far, the choice of a zero-risk campaign has prevailed… Except that the strategy has changed a few days ago. Confirmation by a government adviser: “It was tense last week, it’s starting to relax.” Because silence too is risky. The proof: poll after poll, the dynamics of the left are confirmed. In some surveys, Nupes – the New Popular Ecological and Social Union – is even ahead of Emmanuel Macron’s coalition.
The most seasoned ministers are now asked to go to the front. Message heard by Bruno Le Maire, Agnès Pannier-Runacher (guest of franceinfo Thursday June 2), Olivier Véran, Olivia Grégoire, who have all deployed in the media. “There will be others”blows a strategist.
To tell the truth, the fear of risk alone is not enough to explain the discretion of the members of the government. There is also the late publication, Wednesday June 1, of the decrees of attribution of the ministers, which define the field of action of each, and therefore their perimeter of communication. There is the reserve period, which prohibits the executive from making announcements or travel since May 30. And then there is also the renewal of staff at the Elysée and Matignon. A number of councilors have left without yet being replaced. This also seized up the decision-making circuit.