Emmanuel Macron’s first steps in a cohabitation that does not say its name

For his first field trip since the appointment of Michel Barnier, the head of state was discreet in the Rhône. For his close friends, this is the beginning of a new era.

“Oh, for sure, you’ll see him less.“, jokes a presidential advisor. Since the appointment of Michel Barnier as Prime Minister, Emmanuel Macron has been keeping a low profile.”Its function has not changed, its role has.“, thus assumes the Elysée. But how much longer will the head of state be able to remain in the background, while a cohabitation that does not say its name is established?”Scent of cohabitation“, “demanding coexistence“: the Elysée has promised a new era after the defeat of the presidential camp in the legislative elections, while the Macronists, associated with the Republicans, are preparing to be re-elected to the government.

For his first field trip since Michel Barnier’s appointment to Matignon, Emmanuel Macron was discreet on Tuesday, September 10, at a Sanofi group vaccine factory in Neuville-sur-Saône (Rhône) near Lyon, before launching the Wordskills, the “Journal of trades and crafts”. For this highly symbolic trip, Emmanuel Macron arrived alone on the site. No minister accompanied him while Michel Barnier continues his consultations to try to find the most stable majority possible and form a government.

No big speech, no announcements, no exchange with the press… The head of state forces his nature, cutting ribbons. Only an allusion during a minimalist speech: crises pass, not him.Great things can only be achieved by being faithful to one’s history.“, “Ambition is needed, you had it and we had it at your side“, declared Emmanuel Macron, emphasizing Sanofi’s ability to “reinvent“. “This presupposes this constancy and this perseverance (..) not moving from one news story to another, from one wave to another“, added the head of state, as if echoing current events.

“He will have to reinvent himself, the handle has gone to the other side of the bank“, recognizes, fatalistically, a friend of the Elysée. Understand: the heart of power is now at Matignon, even if Michel Barnier does not have a government.”I need you, the president needs you“, the Prime Minister thus launched to the deputies of the former Macronist majority, like an air of emotional blackmail. Tired, a figure of the Assembly concluded: “Not sure if this argument still works.“.