Edouard Philippe on September 29, 2020 in Paris. – ISA HARSIN / SIPA
- Edouard Philippe is publishing a book this Wednesday on his experience at Matignon, nine months after leaving this mission to go and lead the city of Le Havre.
- The ambitions of the former Prime Minister are closely scrutinized by the marchers, whose movement will celebrate its five years on Tuesday.
- The role that Edouard Philippe will play in the 2022 presidential election remains unclear, and LREM hopes to be able to count on its support for Emmanuel Macron.
He is well and truly out of hibernation. Edouard Philippe had remained withdrawn from political news since his departure from Matignon on July 3, 2020. Nine months later, the former Prime Minister published this Wednesday a book taking stock of his experience as head of government, co-written with his friend, Gilles Boyer MEP. Far from bringing clarity to his personal political ambitions, Clear prints and lines (Lattès), who will arrive in bookstores for the five years of La République en Marche and one year before the presidential election, maintains among macronists the mystery about the future of Edouard Philippe.
Norman’s response and desire to influence the debates
The interested party is fueling speculation himself. Guest of the television news of France 2 Sunday evening, Edouard Philippe, was questioned by the journalist Laurent Delahousse on this quote which is attributed to him: “I will not be a candidate except perhaps if Emmanuel Macron was not”. Evasive, the mayor of Le Havre
got this very Norman response : “I don’t think I said it, I’m not sure I said it publicly, maybe…”.
The former Prime Minister also said his wish to influence the public debate for the presidential election, in less than a year. “I was very loyal to the President of the Republic but I also have great freedom of tone and thought, and I must use it to bring to life a debate that I believe essential to my country ”, he assured on France 2.
LREM’s birthday a little eclipsed
While the party created in 2016 by Emmanuel Macron is preparing to blow out its five candles on Tuesday, the media outings of the former head of government will multiply this week (on France Inter and TMC this Wednesday), for the promotion of his book. “It does not come out at the best time, but the poor have nothing to do with it,” prefers to smile Roland Lescure, spokesperson for LREM, on the eve of a meeting scheduled for 19:30 by the macronists, in digital, confinement obliges.
“He symbolized the overcoming of divisions, it is very good that he publishes a book”, continues the deputy of the French living abroad. The ability of the former member of the Republicans to rally elected officials from the right indeed interests the marchers in view of the campaign of Emmanuel Macron for his re-election in 2022. He also takes care of his network, maintaining relations with the LR defectors from the government Gérald Darmanin and Sébastien Lecornu, the right-wing elected officials and those of the association La République des maires. Among the ideas defended in Clear prints and lines, there is “a great attention paid to the use of public money, the respect of the authority of the State, the valorization of work”, explains Gilles Boyer to AFP. So many campaign themes likely to speak to the right-wing electorate as well as to the macronists.
Popular, and loyal?
The good popularity rating of Le Havrais, which has not joined LREM, is of course scrutinized by walkers. “He is very popular today, and I think he owes part of this to the fact that he applied our program, and that he is more distant from business,” prefers to temper Roland Lescure. Edouard Philippe is also subject to a judicial investigation opened last July by the Court of Justice of the Republic for the management of the health crisis, like three of his ministers at the time.
“Philippe is in ambush, but he will be loyal, he will help in the re-election of Macron,” believes a close friend of the head of state, who nevertheless “resents him a lot for not having been a candidate for municipal elections in Paris, for Working “. In the second round of municipal elections last June, the Prime Minister was elected mayor of Le Havre with 59%, while LREM recorded very disappointing results elsewhere in France.