He has finally resolved the ambiguity. After having spared the suspense on his intentions, since his departure from Matignon in July 2020, Edouard Philippe has finally cut short the speculations concerning his role in the next electoral campaign. The ex-prime minister announced on Sunday that he would provide support “Complete” to Emmanuel Macron for the 2022 presidential election. “Emmanuel Macron is made of a metal of which I do not see much trace in all those who are today candidates for the presidential election”, declared Edouard Philippe on TF1, invoking a process of ” loyalty ” and of “Consistency” on his part.
A clarification greeted with relief by the macronists – the boss of La République en Marche (LRM), Stanislas Guerini, greeted a “Clear and strong support” – so much was awaited. For several months, the faithful of the Head of State scrutinized each of the statements of the mayor of Le Havre (Seine-Maritime), annoying that the latter left a form of uncertainty on his positioning for the Elyos poll. . Admittedly, Edouard Philippe repeated to be “Loyal” vis-à-vis Mr. Macron, but he also said he was “Free”, by showing a temptation to rely on its strong popularity in the polls to play a national role.
The whole question, within the majority, was whether he was pursuing this goal from the 2022 presidential election, even if it means appearing as an embarrassing rival for Mr. Macron, or whether he was aiming instead for the next step, that of 2027. Since Sunday, it is “Clear, clean and flawless”, as appreciated by the President of the National Assembly, Richard Ferrand. While Emmanuel Macron is given a strong position for the presidential election, with 41% of favorable opinions, Edouard Philippe understood that it was futile to seek recourse, in the event that the head of state would be prevented, as he might have given the impression, during his media return in the spring.
“Do not pass for a traitor”
On April 4, on France 2, questioned about a sentence he would have held in private about the presidential election of 2022 – “I will not be a candidate, unless perhaps Emmanuel Macron was not” -, the juppeist had seemed embarrassed. “I don’t believe I said it, not publicly”, he awkwardly dodged. “I like being in charge”, he said at the same time, in Point. What sow trouble among the faithful of the Head of State. Didn’t Edouard Philippe refuse to join LRM when he was at the head of the government, then to work at the “Consolidation of the majority”, as the Elysee had proposed to him when he left Matignon?
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