The game seemed decided on Tuesday, after the meeting at the Élysée between Emmanuel Macron and the parties ready not to censor the next head of government. François Bayrou was at the top of the pile, but the tide turned. The Bernard Cazeneuve option is gaining weight.
The countdown is on: a Prime Minister will be appointed Thursday, December 12 in the evening. At least this is the objective that Emmanuel Macron himself set on Tuesday during the round table with the parties ready at least not to censor the next head of government. However, this is obviously taking a little longer than expected…
However, on Wednesday, the cards seemed made: François Bayrou is the big favorite. The Élysée even hoped for an announcement at the end of the day. But it's a classic, the tide has turned. The column of arguments for not appointing the lifelong ally suddenly appeared to be more extensive than that of the good reasons to call him to Matignon.
François Bayrou turned the campaign around during Emmanuel Macron's first race for the Elysée: it's “too 2017“. If he has always had the ear of the President, the one who had lunch with him the day after the censorship of the Barnier government and who received him face to face before the big meeting on Tuesday, hid too badly that He was going to be the elected official. However, the mayor of Pau says what he thinks, he weighs in. And if his personality was not too overwhelming for the president, wonder the Macronists, ultra favorite for Matignon. “His name”is too much in the atmosphere” : “It won't be him“, assures an advisor to Emmanuel Macron. And then, “Sarkozy killed him. Chopped menu“, mocks another.
And that, at least for a while, is how we stop being the man for the job. However, the wheel has not stopped turning for the boss of the MoDem, but the situation is getting complicated, especially when, in addition, the left still wants a truly left-wing Prime Minister, and when the right continues to hate you because you refused to vote for Nicolas Sarkozy in the second round in 2007 and you called for François Hollande to vote in 2012…
If Emmanuel Macron's historic ally may have “a separate status”according to a minister, it was done “manipulate“, swears an interlocutor of the president who”falsely promised him the job”. Other names are circulating: Sébastien Lecornu, Xavier Bertrand… “The president is planning a surprise“, says a Macronist. And it is therefore the Bernard Cazeneuve option which is skyrocketing, because he is “the only one who can keep a Bruno Retailleau in government while bringing in socialists“, pleads a supporter of the scenario. “Because he will have the humility to do nothing other than govern“, says one of the friends of the former Prime Minister of François Hollande.
Bernard Cazeneuve had however been sidelined in favor of Michel Barnier last September. “At the point where we are, it would have its small effect,” provides support while Emmanuel Macron “loves to surprise“, recalls someone close to the president… who does not rule out seeing him appoint someone whose name has never been circulated.
On Wednesday, while everyone in all camps was stamping their feet, Emmanuel Macron had lunch with his supporters in the Senate: a president “laughing and spontaneous”reports a guest, who says that he even played on the suspense by taking up those who mentioned “the” next Prime Minister: “the… or the“, laughed the head of state.
In the meantime, Emmanuel Macron “play the little clock master”according to a deputy. It takes off Thursday morning for Warsaw, Poland, arriving a little before noon. At 4 p.m., he visits the Uprising Museum. His close guard is banking on an announcement “rather on the way back”. “This is his last chance to appoint someone who can hold on,” recalls a faithful who would not be shocked if Emmanuel Macron ultimately took more time. A wise government advisor notes that“Having set a deadline may also have been just a way of putting pressure on the negotiations”. And one of his friends is suspicious: “He can throw everything away and maybe he hasn’t decided anything at all.”
