Édouard Philippe denies being “in an effort to destabilize” Macron
Abdul Saboor / REUTERS
Edouard Philippe refuted on Saturday to lead a “an attempt to destabilize the President of the Republic” after having made his candidacy for the Élysée official this week. “I have too much respect for institutions and I think the time is too dangerous for anyone to try to do that.”declared the leader of the Horizons party to the daily Paris Normandy. “It is essential for the institutions that he completes his mandate”also estimated Philippe, to whom some have attributed the intention of betting on a possible impediment of Macron, due to political instability, before the deadline of 2027.
Philippe, who is due to meet the new Prime Minister Michel Barnier on Sunday at Matignon, also welcomed the choice of this nomination. Barnier is “methodical, solid, experienced and pro-European”he stressed. “He knows what a coalition is and is not sectarian”he added, repeating that he would do what he could “to help him”.
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Mayor of Le Havre since 2010 – with an interruption from 2017 to 2020 during his time at Matignon – Édouard Philippe has also indicated that he will seek re-election in 2026. In the meantime, he hopes to receive Emmanuel Macron next Thursday for the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Normandy port, an episode marked by terrible bombings which destroyed a huge part of the city. “If the president comes, it will go very well, I guarantee it.”assured Philippe to deny the notorious freshness of their relations.
