Emmanuel Macron, in front of the Elysée in Paris on August 28, 2024, is still struggling to draw lessons from the legislative elections that occurred two months prior, despite the record-high turnout. His consultations following the election have turned into a circus, with constant changes and shifts in potential candidates for the position of prime minister. One day, it’s former Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve who seems to be the frontrunner, while another day it’s Xavier Bertrand, the President of the Hauts-de-France region. Amidst the chaos, the name of a relatively unknown figure, Thierry Beaudet, emerged briefly before disappearing. The situation at Matignon has become chaotic, with constant speculation and changes in potential candidates.
The situation has reached such a ridiculous point that the media is making a spectacle out of Macron’s indecision. News channels like BFM-TV have headlines like “Matignon: Macron tests a new name every day!” to emphasize the surreal nature of the situation. This constant back and forth has become a source of amusement for commentators, humorists, and anyone following the political drama. Former advisers like Gaspard Gantzer and Ziad Gebran have made jokes about Macron’s endless consultations, comparing his decision-making process to consulting former prime ministers, Tour de France winners, and even the talents of a psychic octopus named Paul.
Throughout the summer, Macron has been playing with the political landscape like a cat toying with mice, tossing potential candidates from one side to the other with no clear direction. He has floated the idea of appointing someone from the right, left, or center, including the possibility of a “technical” candidate. His close aides have described his decision-making process as a filtering process, reducing the options through consultations and discussions. However, the longer Macron delays making a decision, the more he appears indecisive and out of touch with the situation.
Macron’s inability to make a decision regarding the appointment of the Prime Minister has led to criticism and mockery from various quarters. His constant consultations and changes in potential candidates have created a sense of chaos and confusion in the political landscape. The media has been quick to highlight the absurdity of the situation, with headlines emphasizing the farcical nature of the ongoing circus at Matignon. Macron’s approach to decision-making, by consulting a wide range of individuals and delaying the final decision, has been portrayed as a lack of leadership and direction. The longer the situation continues, the more Macron appears to be losing control over the narrative and the process.
