That’s it, Emmanuel Macron has finally chosen a new Prime Minister after the forced departure of Michel Barnier. After numerous consultations and long delays, his choice fell on François Bayrou. The founder of MoDem will therefore have the heavy responsibility of setting up a government which will have to resist current tensions.
A task not at all easy for the mayor of Pau. It was in fact from the capital of Béarn that he built his brilliant political career. Without ever being on the verge of winning the presidential election, he has always been among the influential personalities. His status as a centrist has long allowed him to speak with the left and the right. Among the many anecdotes that punctuated his journey, one has remained in the annals.
The slap of François Bayrou
While he was in the presidential campaign near Strasbourg, François Bayrou had a reflex that caused a lot of ink to flow. He actually grabbed a young boy by the collar and slapped him. The young boy was in fact picking his pockets. François Bayrou’s reaction went against all the principles of non-violence desired by the Republic. However, this gesture did not serve him well, quite the contrary. Patrick Mignola, the former president of the MoDem group in the National Assembly, gave an interview to France
info about this.
“We were very, very afraid, because there is normally nothing worse for a politician than to be violent. But we said to ourselves: he is going to collapse, and that will be the end of his political career… And in fact, the effect was completely opposite in public opinion. (…) And deep down, I believe that the French recognized in Bayrou that ultimately,
he was someone who had principles. There are things that are done, and things that are not done. You pick my pockets, you take a slap.”
The image of François Bayrou impacted
This violent act against a child should have been widely repressed. But every French person nevertheless recognized themselves in him. Instead of being pilloried, the mayor of Pau on the contrary took advantage of his gesture to rise in the polls. Especially since at the time, the influence of Info sources was very strong. His character, presented as very softwas the complete opposite of this knee-jerk reaction. This is what Frédéric Dabi, the general director of the IFOP.
“There was a feeling that there was a decline in state authority. References which were lost, and it is true that from this point of view, the slap had shown a certain form of authority. Him who was caricatured in a somewhat soft mannerafter this event, its electoral base progressed. It was 4/5, it went to 7, 8 to 9”.
An experience not to be repeated
This show of force at the time would not be
experienced in the same way today. Indeed, the climate of tension is such that a slip of this kind would probably be the beginning of the end of his political career. 20 years ago this was synonymous with authority, today this would be seen as an attack. It is in this sense in any case that Frédéric Daby analyzes the situation.
“At the time, this slap in the face of country life was completely new. I liked it for the fresh side. In the current context of terrible tensions, I doubt it would be seen in such a positive way.. It will be seen once again as a decay of the political field.”
