Could the pension crisis be a sign of Emmanuel Macron’s isolation? Behind the scenes, many hope that the President will quickly return to the field. Jean-Rémi Baudot’s political brief.
“Since being re-elected, Emmanuel Macron has not slept a single night in a prefecture” : here is the feeling slipped to franceinfo by a former collaborator of the President. Verification made in his diary: since April 24, apart from his personal trips and his trips abroad, the Head of State has spent two nights outside the Elysée, in July 2022 and in January 2023, one night Everytime. Some in Macronie see it as an illustration of the short time that Emmanuel Macron has spent in recent months on the ground.
>> Pension reform: what to expect for the mobilization day on Tuesday, March 28?
This may seem trivial, but sleeping outside Paris, for the President, is the assurance of having time, of being less involved in representation, of being attentive and of hearing, also, calmly , people who do not necessarily agree. And all this, without being timed.
Obviously, the international news has been dense and the stakes are extremely high: Ukraine, Europe… But many are wondering if this desire to play an international role, fueled by part of his entourage, does not cut not the head of state of certain realities of the country. “I’m afraid he’s lost the link with the French,” worries a member of the majority. A fairly shared feeling, to the point that many are now calling on Emmanuel Macron to “reconnect with the French .
Return to the field to reconnect with the French?
Among these voices, there is the Renaissance deputy Pierre Cazeneuve: “The President, the ministers and the whole majority must spend time with the French“, he explains. What is interesting is that Pierre Cazeneuve worked at the Élysée, where he was assistant to the Chief of Staff of the President. He was one of those who organized a tour of France for Emmanuel Macron in June 2021, post-Covid. At the time, the President spoke of “take up his pilgrim’s staff to take the pulse of the country”. The Élysée boasted of the benefits of listening rather than announcing. Is this what he has been missing in recent months? Some in Macronie think so.
For now, nothing specific has been officially announced. “I guess it will come back,” wants to believe a shadow counselor. It is rumored that the President’s office is working on future trips. Some hope for a next trip to Marseille. For the moment, Emmanuel Macron is mainly working to restore order in his ranks with the reception, Monday, March 27 at midday, of the bosses of the majority with the Prime Minister at the Élysée.