In the opinion of a walking MP, the announcement of the withdrawal of Benjamin Griveaux from the race at the Paris City Hall, Friday February 14, acted like a “Political earthquake” for the majority and the executive. Unable to reserve ” bandwidth “, as we say in macronie, for something else so much the event shakes the power in place. First of all, because of its novelty: the interference in a private affair – the broadcasting on social networks of an intimate video of the candidate – in the public debate has rarely had such a political impact. By the character of the protagonist, then: Benjamin Griveaux has been for almost four years one of the most well-known faces in the adventure that led Emmanuel Macron to the Elysée Palace.
Impossible, under these conditions, to carry out a completely normal political activity. On Friday morning, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, who presented part of the candidates on his list for the municipal elections in Le Havre, was even annoyed. “I respect the decision made by Benjamin Griveaux, I will have the opportunity to directly express my sympathy and support. But as it did not escape you, and as perhaps you find it a little frustrating, when I am in Le Havre, I speak of Le Havre “, he launched to the press. A few minutes later, the head of government refined his point via Twitter: “I think of Benjamin Griveaux who made a conscious decision. A difficult decision. Now it is urgent to leave the man and his family in peace ”.
“Extremely courageous decision”
The same discomfort inhabited Sibeth Ndiaye and Marlène Schiappa, in the middle of the day, at the Ministry of Health, where the two women had joined their colleague Secretary of State, Laurent Pietraszewski, to talk about pensions in the presence of deputies. During the press briefing organized after the meeting, it was the first, government spokesperson, who took on the delicate task of putting words on this issue. “Extremely courageous decision” by M. Griveaux. “A decision he made alone, or at least in an intimate family circle”, said this close to the former government spokesperson, while denouncing “A campaign of meanness” and of “Stinking balls”.
Closed face, Mme Schiappa, for her part, disappeared without speaking on the subject. The secretary of state for equality between women and men, who is on the list of La République en Marche (LRM) in the 14e arrondissement of Paris, has indicated that it does not intend to replace Mr. Griveaux. ” No “she had replied, a little earlier, sunglasses on her nose, facing the cameras which questioned her about a possible candidacy as head of the list.
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