We know the President’s love for the city in the South of France. On numerous occasions, Brigitte Macron's husband has also shouted his loyalty to Olympique de Marseille, a famous football club in perpetual rivalry with Paris Saint-Germain. In 2017, while taking a few days of vacation in the Bouches-du-Rhône, the politician, newly elected head of state, even kicked the ball with the famous sportsmen of his favorite club during training at the Commanderie, where he was the guest of honor of club president Jacques-Henri Eyraud. From there to imagine himself mayor of the city of Marseille … In any case, this is the fate that Bernard Tapie, businessmen and incidentally former boss of Olympique de Marseille would have wished for him. In April 2016, already, Bernard Tapie, who recently confided in the evolution of his cancer, confided to The Express : “With his charisma and the possibility of being of service to his constituency, he could be elected deputy anywhere without worry. Mayor of Marseille, why not? He came in front of business leaders, he was a hit, it was a festival! But we must not tell people that we are here only in a presidential strategy. ” As journalist Renaud Revel writes in his book full of anecdotes on the Presidents of the Fifth Republic, Evening Visitors (published on January 21, 2021 by Plon and that Current wife could read), Bernard Tapie already imagined a great political career for Emmanuel Macron. But, judging him too young to take the presidency, he initially advised him to become mayor of Marseille.
"Marseille, that pisses me off!" answers Emmanuel Macron
In the chapter devoted to Alain Minc, "Essayist, advisor, jack of all trades, man of influence, business and media" and especially evening visitor, the journalist Renaud Revel reports a conversation that the latter had with Bernard Tapie. The two men advise Emmanuel Macron to wait for the next presidential election, that of 2022, before robbing the Elysee. Bernard Tapie then calls Alain Minc to tell him and submit to him the idea of becoming a city councilor. “‘I have a message for your buddy Macron. I saw him in Marseille and I found him wonderful! He must take the city and nothing will stop him afterwards. Gaudin will agree. The bourgeois will be happy. The Socialists will try to save three pieces of furniture. And the Little Prince will have been elected from the northern districts. A boulevard…' "Luminous", judge the essayist, who goes to Bercy where he reports to the young minister his conversation with the former boss of OM. ” But the former economy minister doesn't want to hear about it. “A very good politician,” Emmanuel Macron comments with a smile, “but it's no, I won't do it like that. Marseille pisses me off! You live on the edge of the system, outside the pot. Tell him that I want, that I will go fast. Without going through the municipal hut. It's now or never !’” We all know what happened next: he was elected President on May 14, 2017, even before having celebrated his fortieth spring. “Six years have passed, and Alain Minc confesses to having tried to dissuade him from launching an assault on the Elysée – 'too young, too early' -, convinced that at barely thirty-eight he was taking a risks. But he admits he ‘totally messed up. I was wrong.'"
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