The article discusses a meeting held by members of the French majority government in Paris, with figures such as Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, European elections candidate Valerie Hayer, Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Sejourne, National Assembly President Yael Braun-Pivet, and MoDem President Francois Bayrou in attendance on May 7, 2024. This event was a part of the campaign for the upcoming European elections on June 9. The meeting aimed to rally support for the incumbent party, as they faced challenges from other parties, notably the far-right Rassemblement National. Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, had called for a strong campaign effort and support for Hayer.
Valerie Hayer, who had been leading the campaign for the Macron-aligned Renaissance-MoDem-Horizons party, had been struggling to gain traction in the polls against competitors such as Raphael Glucksmann from Place Publique-Parti Socialiste and Jordan Bardella from Rassemblement National. The far-right party was predicted to do well in the elections, with polling suggesting they could reach around 30% of the vote. In response to Hayer’s challenges, Macron and his ministers had undertaken the “all hands on deck” strategy to boost support for their candidates and highlight the importance of the European Union in current times.
During the meeting, various speakers emphasized the importance of the upcoming elections and the need for a strong turnout to prevent a resurgence of far-right sentiments in France and Europe. The mood was tense as Gabriel Attal finally took the stage and expressed his belief that this moment marked a turning point in the campaign. He acknowledged criticisms that the government had not been actively involved in the election earlier, but defended their strategy of focusing on citizen concerns. Attal believed that the French population was starting to pay more attention to the policies and projects proposed by the government for the future of Europe.
The audience at the meeting listened attentively as speakers like Stéphane Séjourné warned of the dangers facing democracy and the rise of dark forces in the world. Francois Bayrou emphasized the need to make history rather than engage in mere political posturing. Other figures on the list, such as former Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, promised to fight for the integrity of the election process and prevent it from becoming a mere extension of previous political battles. With only a month left until the European elections, the pressure was on for the Macron-aligned party to gain momentum and win over voters.
The meeting at the Maison de la Mutualité on May 7 was viewed as the start of a crucial phase in the election campaign, with Gabriel Attal believing that things were starting to accelerate and gain momentum. The Minister of Economy, Bruno Le Maire, had to leave early, but Attal’s speech marked a significant moment for the incumbent party. As the countdown to the elections continued, the stakes were high for the Macron-aligned candidates, who needed to rally support and convince voters of the importance of their vision for France and Europe. The future of the country’s leadership in the EU hung in the balance as the campaign entered its final stretch.
