The meeting is also being held on May 7, the seventh anniversary of the election of the youngest president of the Fifth Republic, in 2017. A sort of seven-year term already completed for a president re-elected in 2022, and who still has “so much to do” until 2027, as he explained this weekend to La Provence and La Tribune Dimanche.
But the European elections of June 9 resemble a crossroads for the presidential camp, which already has to face a lack of absolute majority in the National Assembly and whose list is in difficulty in the polls, far behind the National Rally.
In the edition of the Ifop-Fiducial “rolling” poll for LCI, Sud Radio and Le Figaro published Monday, the list led by Valérie Hayer is credited with 16% voting intentions, or half less than the RN of Jordan Bardella ( 32%), and three points ahead of Raphaël Glucksmann’s PS-Place Publique list.
“I’m not worried about the polls. The French are not yet in the election. And for me, when I do the field, the feedback is rather good. There is a dynamic, something that is happening. But the French do not know that there is an election on June 9. We really have a reason for mobilization,” explains Valérie Hayer to AFP.
– Attal to the forehead –
The mood is combative but optimism is nevertheless measured within the majority. Late nomination of a candidate without reputation after several refusals (Bruno Le Maire, Jean-Yves Le Drian), impatience around the list, delicate government equation in a context of budgetary constraints, desire of the National Rally to make the ballot a referendum against the head of state: the pitfalls are numerous.
If, unless there is a change of heart, he will probably not be present at the Mutualité, Emmanuel Macron seems eager to fight it out. “I said it, I will get involved (in the campaign). I cannot tell you that these elections are essential and not get involved to support the list which defends Europe,” he said. declared this weekend.
The president also attacked the RN’s opponents, “clogged with inconsistencies”, who “constantly change their face. One day Frexit. Another day remaining in the Union”.
But in the meantime, it is Gabriel Attal who must cross swords. “I hope that he gets as involved as possible in the campaign by holding debates, meetings, going into the field. This is what I asked him, as also of the entire government,” said Emmanuel Macron.
The Prime Minister will speak at the Mutualité, before the conclusion of Valérie Hayer. “Gabriel Attal will put himself into the daily lives of the French”, with a demonstration of what the European Union brings for citizens, farmers or retirees, and “what the consequences would be for them of a brown wave “, explains those around him.
The head of government, at the request of the head of state, should also soon debate with Jordan Bardella. “He must already get involved in the campaign and make sure it goes as well as possible because in any case, he will be accountable for it like the other ministers,” underlines a parliamentary leader.
