Jacques Serais, edited by Laura Laplaud with AFP
modified to
7:02 p.m., June 22, 2022
This is Emmanuel Macron’s umpteenth trial balloon. After a first day of consultation, it was to his last visitor, the communist Fabien Roussel, that he made this confidence: the head of state “envisaged” the constitution of a “government of national unity”, in order to find “ways to get out of the political situation” in the Assembly, where he failed to obtain an absolute majority.
A locked assembly
According to information from Europe 1, the Head of State mentioned this idea well and he even tested this track with several political leaders received at the Élysée. But “it was discussed in the same way as many other subjects”, tempers an adviser, “each time in casual discussions.” Marine Le Pen also indicates that Emmanuel Macron raised this issue with her.
A “government of national unity”, the three words are therefore released and the Head of State knows what they will provoke in the public debate. Advantage for the tenant of the Élysée: to play it great lord, to show that he understood the choice of the voters and that he wishes to integrate this new deal to the point of turning his government upside down. With this proposal, he simply blames his opponents.
He knows full well that neither the Communists, nor the Socialists or the Republicans and even less the elected members of the National Rally aspire to work alongside him. With an Assembly as it is today – locked – no opposition party wants to be held responsible for the President’s record at the end of the next five years.
In the meantime, this political coup may allow Emmanuel Macron to display a certain image of a proactive president but who does not have the means for his ambitions because of his opponents, as if to better demonstrate to the French the impasse of their vote. in the legislative elections. This is the first step in a process that can only lead to the dissolution of the National Assembly.
Emmanuel Macron completes his consultations
The Head of State spoke on Wednesday with the national secretary of Europe Ecology Les Verts, member of the Nupes, Julien Bayou. “It was a frank exchange, to tell the truth, I don’t know if, beyond the words, there is a real awareness of the situation in which we are… I told the president that if there was a blockage, we still held him responsible”, he says.
Julien Bayou assures that Emmanuel Macron did not speak to him about a possible “government of national unity” while just after him, the Head of State consulted his ally and Minister in charge of Trade, Franck Riester, who, at the exit, called to “gather to act”. Should we see this as a new clue to what Emmanuel Macron wishes to undertake?
The president, who also consults Édouard Philippe this Wednesday, could speak by Wednesday evening. The possibility of a televised intervention today is on the table while from Thursday and for a week, Emmanuel Macron will be abroad, chaining in turn Brussels, Munich, Madrid and Lisbon until Thursday next.