For several weeks, Emmanuel Macron appears to be very involved in the campaign for the European elections alongside Valérie Hayer. A proximity and nudges that irritate the opposition.
A surprise visit? According to information from BFMTV, this Friday April 19, in the morning, Emmanuel Macron went to the Paris campaign headquarters of the Renaissance party, with Valérie Hayer, head of the presidential party list in the next European elections. A visit which could allow the president of the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament to regain momentum, still in difficulty in the polls less than two months before the continental election.
“I will try to help you at some key moments of the campaign”
“I thank Valérie for wearing our colors with talent and skills. Where I am I will try to help you and bring my strength to a few key moments of the campaign” declared the President of the Republic according to BFMTV. Like a father who protects his children, the head of state maintains control over the European campaign in the Renaissance camp. “This election is essential for what we represent, for what we are and for what we defend in Europe, even though the European Union has never faced so many challenges in its history,” he continues. .
It is clear that this intervention by Emmanuel Macron had, in addition to its motivating nature for his teams, an air of a call to order. After the National Rally, it is still Valérie Hayer for the presidential majority and Raphaël Glucksmann for the socialist list who complete the leading trio. Except that between the two candidates the gap is narrowing. If according to certain studies the Macronist camp can rely on 18% of voting intentions and at least five points ahead of the left list, the trend is rather towards a rise of Glucksmann and a fall of Hayer, the poll Harris Interactive Toluna created for Challenges, M6 And RTL and published on April 16 gives the two heads of the list neck and neck: 16% for the majority and 14% for the socialists. Be careful, the trends may still change in the coming weeks, because the European race is far from over. However, the dynamic is more in the socialist camp and the first signs of concern within the majority are appearing.
A video of support from the Elysée published then withdrawn scandalizes the opposition
Earlier in the week, Emmanuel Macron had already tried to show his support for Valérie Hayer in a video published on the Elysée’s X account. Since Wednesday April 17, it has been deleted in an attempt to avoid any controversy. “We have the right candidate and I am confident,” he explained in this extract upon arriving in Brussels for a European summit. An exit which scandalized the opposition.
The coordinator of La France Insoumise Manuel Bombard castigated the majority the same evening: “The use of the means of the Elysée to campaign for the list supported by the president” is a practice “contrary to the rules of electoral financing” wrote -he on X (formerly Twitter). The latter referred the matter to the National Commission for Campaign Accounts and Political Financing (CNCCFP). For his part, National Rally MP Grégoire de Fournas regretted “the use of State resources for electoral propaganda purposes, which is totally prohibited by the electoral code”, on the same social network. In the head of state’s camp, the publication of this video is justified because “the president’s institutional speeches are systematically broadcast on social networks”. The decision to withdraw it was taken “as soon as” they “realized” that a question related to the electoral campaign.
“I want fewer comments and more mobilization”
And this is not the first time that Emmanuel Macron has decided to take the spotlight in this campaign for Europeans. During the month of March, the latter appeared quite annoyed by the turn of events. Wednesday March 20, during a dinner on the theme of public finances in the presence of the leaders of the majority, the President of the Republic took the opportunity to address the European elections, without detour.
“It contributes little, it comments a lot…”, “all hands on deck, everyone has to go. I want fewer comments and more mobilization” he was annoyed. Beyond the polls, it was also the weak mobilization of parliamentarians during the launch of the campaign of head list Valérie Hayer, on March 9 in Lille which clearly upset the head of state. Indeed, the atmosphere was “quite heavy” during this dinner. “We roll up our sleeves”, “we invest”, “I could hold meetings” Emmanuel Macron reportedly declared according to Le Parisien.