Between Emmanuel Macron and Edouard Philippe, the de-escalation after the access of tension

Edouard Philippe who pours out in the press: the fact is rare enough to be noted. It marks, in the complicated history of relations between the former Prime Minister and Emmanuel Macron, a new access of tension, one more misunderstanding. And this, even if on both sides, we strive to smooth things over. “The incident is closed”, assures the entourage of the mayor of Le Havre. “We take note and we move on, we focus on the construction of Horizons “, sweeps the MEP Gilles Boyer, close to ‘Edouard Philippe. “He reiterated for the 10,000th time his wish to see the president re-elected. Maybe this time, he will be heard”, demines the Elysée, in allusion to the words of Edouard Philippe who delivers his confidences in “L’Opinion” this Monday.

Merger aborted

Saturday, from Niort where he launched 130 first local committees of his party Horizons , he reaffirmed that he would support Emmanuel Macron for the presidential election. “Between the two men, there is no problem, they saw each other for a long time, everything is fine. There may be friction between entourages, but there is no ambiguity about Edouard’s support for the president, that’s the main thing, “says a minister, referring to the lunch which took place between the two men on January 7. It prevents. Something broke again. The aborted merger between Horizons and Agir, the center-right party chaired by Franck Riester and created in 2017 in support of Edouard Philippe, has left its mark. This marriage, which would have given Horizons a group in the Assembly, broke down in early January when the head of state did not want it. “80 days from the election, the president, he manages the Covid. The internal shop stories of his own majority, it’s charming but it does not fascinate him, ”evacuates an adviser from the Elysée. “He is far from all that, abounds a minister. His project is more Omicron than Horizons”. Franck Riester assures that “there is no imperative to carry out the merger now”.Bitterness The rule, however, is that the parties gathered in the “common house”, this banner of the presidential majority , can get closer. Results ? The varnish of the common house cracked, Edouard Philippe suspended his participation. Difficult, for the one who remains the favorite political personality of the French and is preparing for the presidential election of 2027, to hide his bitterness. Here he is wondering in “L’Opinion”, he who knows how the polls can sometimes vary suddenly as the election approaches, on “the strategy of of his right flank against the candidacy of Valérie Pécresse “. “He is a trump card for the president because he can consolidate and expand the majority, it is an opportunity and a strength for all of us”, supports MP Pierre-Yves Bournazel.

“Not here to butter sandwiches”

“I don’t want to be a minister. I don’t want to go to the National Assembly. I’m not asking for anything. But I don’t want to be bothered, since it’s a fashionable term”, cowards in “L’Opinion” Edouard Philippe in the face of all those who around Emmanuel Macron might fear the place that it will take in the coming months. Edouard Philippe regularly repeats that with Horizons, he did not “come to butter sandwiches”, but to ” try to prepare a strategy for France”, with forthcoming proposals on education, and to present candidates to the legislative ones. It is this point which also stirs up tensions. “Let’s not put the cart before the horse, it’s the presidential election that sets the tone and you have to win first,” tries to play down an interlocutor of the two men. “The tension will fall, assures a close friend of the president, because it is in everyone’s interest”. Until the next episode.