Even before the final sprint of the presidential campaign, some candidates for the Élysée seem to show some signs of running out of steam. Between meetings, trips, encounters and the media, the challenge is political, but also physical. Starting with Emmanuel Macron, who relies on adrenaline. The president-candidate tries his hand at the splits: “Not easy” to jump from an interview with a foreign leader around Ukraine to pointed questions on this or that point of his program, as planned Thursday before the press and Friday in front of the inhabitants of Pau, agrees an LREM official. “You have to manage to be both”.
Emmanuel Macron is “speedy, tired at times” but “it’s a work force”, it is argued, while the head of state appears unshaven and hesitant on pictures released recently by his photographer personal, Soizig de la Moissonnière – a “staging”, denounce its detractors.
Le Pen and breaks
On the side of the RN candidate, who had invoked fatigue after her failed debate between two rounds against Emmanuel Macron in 2017, “it’s the experience that speaks”, says his deputy campaign director Jean-Philippe Tanguy. Marine Le Pen “knows how to manage her time very well, à la Chirac”, renowned for her micro naps: “She knows how to take advantage of every moment to rest”, he assures.
His press officer, with his sister Marie-Caroline and his travel manager, keep an eye on things. “They are very careful that she can have a few moments at her hotel, where she is not asked” or they will “free up time for her before the shows”.
Zemmour, sport and concentration
“We pay attention to that, we give him time for his sport”, especially swimming, said his team a few weeks ago. The candidate Reconquest! sometimes seemed to be searching for words on Monday evening on TF1, during the first big campaign evening. Moment of emotion, as his team says, or possible slack for the ex-controversialist?
His program is reduced this week. But he is “hardly relieved in reality, because he is working on his speech in Metz (a meeting scheduled for Friday) and his next broadcasts”, relativizes his entourage.
Very selective Mélenchon
Jean-Luc Mélenchon “caliber” rather than “running all the hares at once”, recognizes a close friend of the LFI candidate to AFP. For example, faced with some 200 requests received to take part in major oral examinations for such and such a profession, the LFI candidate was very selective.
Another way to protect yourself, according to the same source: “Jean-Luc Mélenchon is not very fond of morning shows, it is rather his spokespersons who go there. He does not want to go there to go, just commenting on the news. In short, we don’t let the agenda dictate.”
Pécresse and its cushions
“She is focused, she is holding on”, assures the entourage of the candidate LR: “She takes a nap as soon as possible” and keeps for this “two cushions in her car”. If Valérie Pécresse has very little free time, she tries to free up the weekend for “reading, movies”, and “she always has a book in her bag”.
His entourage also tries to balance the days “to allow time for rest”. “She knows it all plays out in the last days.”
Jadot and energy
The green candidate meets “people who have incredible energy” and “it is this energy that we draw from and that allows us to hold the campaign,” he told RTL on Tuesday. If Yannick Jadot had to cancel two public meetings, in Toulouse on Wednesday and Bordeaux on Friday, it was for scheduling reasons, with “TV shows that upset everything”, explains his entourage, who rejects a “stroke of fatigue” .
Hidalgo with green tea
The PS candidate, who runs on “green tea”, is “in good shape”. The pace is “sustained” but “she has a lifestyle and a strength of character”, boasts those around her. In the home stretch, Anne Hidalgo is also trying to continue her travels in the field, in addition to the meetings.
Roussel seeks sleep
The communist candidate is “motivated more than ever”, assures his entourage, even if it is “obviously physically exhausting”. Fabien Roussel “preserves himself with moments of disconnection, he tries to run, listens to music… and tries to sleep”.