A week before the first round of early legislative elections, French President Emmanuel Macron, whose camp is behind in the polls, addressed the French on Sunday June 23 via a letter, published by several regional newspapers. Taking his place in the campaign, he admits that his “ way of governing must change profoundly » at the end of the vote, promising “ to act until May 2027 », even if his camp finds itself in a delicate position.
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Despite calls from his majority to stay out of the early legislative campaign, the head of state speaks again to justify the dissolution and support his own camp. “ I heard you want this to change »: this Sunday, June 23, it was a president and a campaigning party leader who addressed the French via a letter published by several regional press titles.
What is surprising about this letter is that his camp tries to explain to him that it would be better for him to disappear from this campaign
Émilie Zapalski, political communicator and founder of the Émilie Conseil agency
A writing which begins with a very long justification of his decision to have initiated a dissolution. Emmanuel Macron even recognizes that it was “ a surprise that arouses worry, rejection, sometimes even anger ”, turned against him. But he explains that he made the decision to dissolve “ in the interest of the country above all other considerations “.
By saying measure “ldemocratic malaise “, Mr. Macron admits that ” the way of governing must change profoundly “. And even though his camp finds itself in difficulty in the polls, he vowed to “ act until May 2027 », thus defeating the idea put forward by some of his adversaries, Marine Le Pen in the lead, that he would be forced to resign in the event of defeat.
Who is speaking out? The head of state or the head of a party?
Émilie Zapalski questions Emmanuel Macron’s letter
Among his promises, “ much stronger and firmer responses “, on ” insecurity, impunity “. “ The next government will have to overhaul children’s policy, better protect our young people and fight more strongly against all discrimination. “, he also pleads, noting the “ strong demand for social justice “.
Read alsoLegislative elections in France: Emmanuel Macron trapped in his own dissolution?
The remarks are also peppered with attacks directed against the extreme right which “ claims to better respond to illegal immigration without proposing anything concrete “, but also against the extreme left who ” refuses clarity on secularism and anti-Semitism “. The head of state is therefore campaigning, without hiding, for the candidates of “Together for the Republic”, the new banner of the presidential camp. This third way is “ the best for the country. Don’t be afraid, don’t give in, vote » he writes.
“ Today, the coalition is not an option, it is an obligation »
The observation of “ change » is widely shared by its flock, starting with Gabriel Attal, convinced of being able to thwart the predictions in a political landscape noticeably polarized around three offers: that of the National Rally and its right-wing allies, credited with 35% to 36% of voting intentions according to weekend surveys; that of the New Popular Front (27% to 29.5%); and the Macronist camp, lagging behind (19.5 to 22%).
Read alsoFrance: a dissolution that hurts Emmanuel Macron
Echoing this, and even if his troops are increasing their outstretched hands on the right and left, Mr. Macron said he wanted a government that “ will bring together republicans of diverse sensibilities who will have known through their courage to oppose the extremes “. Finally, the Head of State asks every French person to read the electoral programs and to travel to vote.
Finally, in there, he finds himself less well than he had thought
Émilie Zapalski judges Emmanuel Macron’s delicate situation
“ Today, the coalition is not an option, it is an obligation to preserve the France we love “, insisted the outgoing president of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, to AFP.