During the first round of the legislative elections which took place on June 30, Emmanuel Macron had the idea of giving an exclusive interview. His choice then fell on Faustine Bollaert for a special broadcast, scheduled for Sunday June 23.
A “big one-on-one interview”
While the President’s entourage advised him to keep a low profile during the early legislative campaign, Emmanuel Macron took the initiative, after the announcement of the dissolution of the Assembly, to prepare a new prime time television intervention to mobilize voters and explain its controversial decision to dissolve the Assembly after the Europeans.
The Élysée begins by negotiating with the editorial staff of France 2 and TF1 for a traditional 8 p.m. newscast on Sunday June 23. But the Élysée’s strategy changes along the way. The president’s communicators then think of Faustine Bollaert which presents It starts today every afternoon on television.
Considered the favorite presenter of the French, according to the 2023 ranking established by TV Magazinean advisor to the president called Faustine Bollaert on June 21 to propose a concept.
Contacted by Planet, the host did not respond to our requests. In the columns of Parisianan executive from France Télévisions, explains anonymously: “It was not a special issue of “It starts today”, but a big one-on-one interview, just to crack the armor.” “He wanted to return to the dissolution and its personal implications,” adds a close friend of the president.
The invitation declined by Faustine Bollaert
Faustine Bollaert politely declined the invitation. A few minutes later, she receives another call, this time from the president himself, who tries to persuade her.
After hanging up, the host and close friend of Michel Drucker warns the management of France Télévisions and takes the time to think for a few hours before definitively refusing. “She found this type of interview inappropriate in this context,” explains the executive to Parisian. “She also feared that her viewers would not fully understand the process.”
After this failure, the Élysée will finally choose to express itself through a Letter to the French, published on Sunday June 23. Several months later, she finally broke the silence.
Faustine Bollaert finally explains her refusal
Several months later, Faustine Bollaert came out of silence. Monday January 6, 2025, the host was the guest of the “Buzz TV” interview for Le Figaro. The opportunity for the forty-year-old mother to go behind the scenes of this request from the President of the Republic.
“I am extremely uncomfortable with this story because every time I am asked the question, I have the impression that it is still supposed to remain very confidential”she confided. “So yes, maybe it’s inappropriate to say that because I don’t want to show any pride in having said no to the president. On the contrary, I was very anxious about this decision and I didn’t sleep for a few days.” (see the video extract below).
The France Télévisions presenter finally justifies his refusal to question the head of state. “What would interest me is the human aspect. The status of president, his position as an extremely hated man” by revealing the underside of this call. “I’m called on a Wednesday to do an interview on Friday. I’m not Caroline Roux (the presenter of C dans l’air on France 5, Editor’s note). I am not Anne-Sophie Lapix (presenter of the 20 Hours of France). I would have had to do ENA, Sciences po, 10 years of BFM in three days… I am also lucid about the risks I was taking and afterwards, I had the impression of being used a little bit and I said it with these words to the president” as evidenced by the images in the rest of the interview.
Emmanuel Macron’s response to Faustine Bollaert’s refusal
Last December, the one who was elected favorite host of the French for the second year in a row already mentioned his refusal to TV Magazine. “This request was flattering and gratifying, especially when your sense of interviewing, your listening and your human curiosity are recognized. But the confidence that I have gained over time, and also thanks to my title of favorite host, allowed me to listen to myself and say no,” she reacted. “I was not afraid to refuse even though many in my professional circle told me that we could not say no to the President of the Republic!”
Faced with the refusal of his invitationthe response from Brigitte Macron’s husband was not long in coming. “I told him that I would very much like to interview him outside of a political context. And when I told him of my refusal, he was very understanding and very cordial” admits the presenter of Safe Zone who has “a curiosity for Emmanuel Macron as a man, but not necessarily for politics.”
