Legislative elections: when Emmanuel Macron thought about inviting himself to Faustine Bollaert’s house before the first round

In his camp, many people asked him to remain discreet during the campaign for the early legislative elections. But, clearly, Emmanuel Macron did not see it that way. According to our information, the president was even considering, a few days after his press conference on Wednesday, June 12, a new speech, in prime time, on television to mobilize voters and try to convince the French of the merits of his surprise dissolution on the evening of the European elections.

The Élysée Palace began by discussing with the editorial staff of France 2 and TF1 for a very traditional 8pm newscast on Sunday, June 23. Before changing its mind… to opt for a much less traditional format. Emmanuel Macron’s communicators had the idea of ​​turning to the host Faustine Bollaert, whose show, “Ça commence aujourd’hui” is a hit at midday on France 2. A daily meeting where the French reveal themselves and tell their intimate stories. “It was one idea among many others,” confirms a close friend of the head of state.

The idea of ​​a “big one-on-one interview, just to crack the armor”

An advisor to the president called Faustine Bollaert on June 21 to propose the concept to her. Contacted by Le Parisien – Aujourd’hui en France, the host did not wish to answer our questions. But, under cover of anonymity, a France Télévisions executive said: “It was not a special issue of It starts today, but a big one-on-one interview, just to crack the armor.” “He wanted to come back to the dissolution, to what it could have implied for him as President of the Republic,” added a close friend of Emmanuel Macron.

The president’s approach was also not understood by some leading figures of the former majority, who were very wary of this televised initiative and who did everything to dissuade him from participating. The Élysée would eventually opt for a more solemn mode of expression: a Letter to the French, sent on Sunday, June 23.