According to information from Parisian, the tension mounts between Emmanuel Macron and his former Prime Minister, Édouard Philippe. Relatives of politicians describe an icy climate in the run-up to the 2022 presidential election.
Last July, when Édouard Philippe left Matignon to the cheers of his collaborators, the truth would have been quite different behind the scenes. Already at the time, it was rumored that his relationship with Emmanuel Macron was not in good shape. But although their connection has sometimes been parasitized, the President of the Republic and the former tenant of Matignon have not made filth in the eyes of the general public. Today, the ambiguity of their relationship is increasingly questioned. If the Horizons party, created by the mayor of Le Havre last October, voted in favor of the presidential majority, Emmanuel Macron would seem to be wary of the unifying force of his former prime minister. At least that’s what an article in the Parisian published this Thursday, January 6. Confidences of relatives of the former executive couple in support.
“Édouard, we cannot force him”
As the presidential election approaches, Horizons has decided to unite behind Emmanuel Macron. After having been its Prime Minister for three years, there was no question for Édouard Philippe not to fall into the wake of the majority for 2022. “Édouard is an asset for the President of the Republic as the campaign approaches and he has announced his clear support. Now it’s up to the candidate to say how they want to use each other’s talents to optimize their chances.“, confides Gilles Boyer, MEP close to Édouard Philippe. But the latter does not forget to send out a warning message:”Édouard is open to discussion, negotiation, sometimes compromise. But you can’t force it. Edward, he has no boss.“Is there electricity in the air?
“It’s complicated between them”
And it is a minister who knows the two men well who confirms it at the Parisian. “There is a difference in temperament, in character“, he explains, before describing the icy climate of the moment between Emmanuel Macron and Édouard Philippe:”It’s complicated between them, there is tension. And I got it from the donkey’s mouth!“, he continues, assuring to have “spoke directly with the president”, always according to information from Parisian.