In October 2021, six months before the presidential election, Edouard Philippe summoned the press for a big announcement, in front of 3,000 supporters and 600 local elected officials. While he never joined La République en Marche, he launched his own center-right party, called Horizons “because it is necessary, to do well, to see far“, according to him. And indeed, Edouard Philipe may see much further than his town hall in Le Havre, found after his departure from Matignon.
With Horizons, he wants to become one of the essential elements of the majority that Emmanuel Macron hopes to bring together next June. So the former Prime Minister wet the shirt. Weeks spent crisscrossing France to recruit members and, in the end, no less than 250 local Horizons committees that have emerged.
When blows rain for the first time in the five-year term
At the Elysée, it is an understatement to say that the initiative did not please, throwing a chill between the president and his former head of government. What could be more classic, however, according to Jean-François Copé, than these rivalries at the top of the State… The former minister of Jacques Chirac “don’t know[t] no Presidents of the Republic who show indulgence towards their former Prime Ministers, since the former Prime Ministers in question have presidential ambitions“.
“Monsieur Loyal” would therefore have turned into a future rival… For the first time in the five-year term, blows are raining down. The press echoes violent remarks attributed to the president. “No constituency for Horizons, they are jerks!”, would have dropped Emmanuel Macron (Horizons will finally get 58, half as much as François Bayrou’s MoDem). Hardly more tender, a member of the presidential entourage would have predicted to the one who “wanted to start his stable” a future of “groom”.
“He owes me everything and he thinks we’re equal? He smoked the vapors of the port of Le Havre?”
“The only one who breaks my c… is Edouard Philippe, but we’re going to kill him.”Comments attributed to Emanuel Macronquoted in “Additional investigation”
What does the interested party say? Officially, nothing: in principle, the mayor of Le Havre “does not comment on statements reported by intermediaries or by the press”. The one who swore to stay”in all circumstances inexhaustible” wants to “very zen”.
Excerpt from “Edouard Philippe: Monsieur Loyal or future rival?”, a portrait to see in “Complement of the investigation” on May 19, 2022.
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