For Edouard Philippe, the re-election of Emmanuel Macron “is not a given”

The day after the launch of his party, “Horizon”, former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe warned Emmanuel Macron, saying that his re-election “has not been taken for granted.” In Sunday Newspaper, in which he gives a long interview, the mayor of Le Havre “clearly” confirms his support for the outgoing President of the Republic but considers that he will “need to rely on a base of stability to continue the effort to transform the region. France “. Thus, he wants to help Emmanuel Macron to “expand his base” to allow him to be re-elected to the Elysee Palace in April 2022.

Surprisingly, when asked whether the members of his party will have to commit to supporting the Head of State during the presidential election, Edouard Philippe replies that he “does not like pressure” and will not put “a gun on nobody’s temple ”. The former Prime Minister also does not respond to comments that believe that his party will serve his interests more than those of the President of the Republic.

Philippe candidate for nothing in 2022

In his place in 2022, Edouard Philippe announces that he is not a candidate for anything: for the presidential election, of course, but no more for the legislative elections in June. He wishes to remain mayor of Le Havre, “the most beautiful of mandates”. On the other hand, he wants his party’s reflections to influence the program of the future candidate Macron: “Our ideas are intended to fuel the debate. The former Prime Minister nevertheless has few illusions since “the program is the personal business of the candidate (…) no one can dictate his proposals to the candidate,” he said.

With a view to 2022 Edouard Philippe therefore keeps as his line of conduct that of loyalty to Emmanuel Macron who appointed him to Matignon in 2017. But a loyalty that is sometimes squeaky. On his relations with the President of the Republic when he was Prime Minister, he did not change his mind: they were “of great fluidity and great confidence”. Has Emmanuel Macron changed his mind about Edouard Philippe? “Ask him the question,” he replies in a concise manner.