The “New path” that Emmanuel Macron intends to borrow for the end of his mandate may not be so much a matter of change of line as of reaffirmation of a method: that of “hyper-presidency” from the beginning. After having sent his prime minister, Edouard Philippe, to the front throughout the debate on pensions, then during the coronavirus crisis, the head of state intends, according to his relatives, to regain his pre-eminence .
In any case, that is how we should understand the meaning of his televised address on June 14, where the “I” reigned in majesty on subjects such as economic recovery, Europe or decentralization. With in mind the July meeting, where the tenant of the Elysée must explain his vision for the next two years. Relatives describe head of state who wants to be “On the move” and “Hands in the grease”, preparing for the government reshuffle in the wake of the municipal elections, for the last stretch of its five-year term until the presidential election in 2022.
Hushed fight
“The president has the will, in the next two years, to govern himself. He wants to be in control of his destiny and his re-election ”, says his entourage, estimating that the coming speech of the Head of State will be equivalent to a declaration of general policy, which is normally the responsibility of the Prime Minister … In 2019, Mr. Macron had renounced his promise to come and speak to Congress every year, letting Mr. Philippe speak before the deputies. These times seem to be over. “It is in his nature, observes the patron of senators La République en Marche (LRM), François Patriat. Emmanuel Macron likes to be present on all files and wants to be constantly informed. “ Anything but a coincidence, therefore, if the announcements on short-time working were made since the Elysée on Wednesday.
This will is expressed while a felt struggle has set in recent days between the Elysée and Matignon on the future direction of the quinquennium. « [Emmanuel Macron] know who I am, what I embody, what I can do and what I can’t do ”, warned Edouard Philippe, on June 16, in the columns of Paris-Normandy. Clearly, no question for him to stay in Matignon the day after the municipal elections to drive a social shift, or to act as a turning point in lax budget. “If you want to do 1983 backwards [année du tournant de la rigueur de François Mitterrand], you take Pierre Mauroy “, warns someone close to the Prime Minister.
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