[update below] [2nd update below]
So France now has a president of the republic and prime minister who were both unknown to the larger public four years ago. Édouard Philippe’s appointment to Matignon was pretty much expected over the past week, though I saw no mention of him as a possible prime minister before Emmanuel Macron’s victory the Sunday before last. When pundits started to advance Philippe’s name the day after the election, I pronounced him an excellent choice. As one likely knows, he’s 46, is (now was) the deputy-mayor of Le Havre, a member of LR—probably the most centrist one can get in that party—and ally of Alain Juppé, was a card-carrying PS rocardien in his student days (at Sciences Po Paris, naturally), and is, along with Macron, an énarque—and like Macron, finished near the top of his class (with Philippe going to the Conseil d’État, Macron to the Inspection Générale des Finances). A Fifth Republic classic.
I first learned of Philippe’s existence in November 2015, while listening to an extended interview with him on France Inter. I was sufficiently impressed with him that I listened to the end and made sure to note his name (as a smart, moderate politician on the right whom I could eventually vote for if presented with the choice). The interview, which goes for 90 minutes, may be listened to here. The first part is also with philosopher Yves-Charles Zarka—definitely worth the listen—but from the 52nd minute it’s exclusively Philippe.
France Culture also had an extended interview with Philippe, in December 2014, that may be heard here (scroll to video at the end).
See the portraits of Philippe in Mediapart and Challenges. From January 18th to May 3rd, Philippe had a weekly column on the campaign in Libération, archived here.
One learns in Le Monde that Philippe has a “fierce hatred” of Nicolas Sarkozy, so much so that the two men almost came to blows some fifteen years back. Awesome. Monsieur Philippe, you’re my man!
The composition of the government will be announced tomorrow morning. Will be looking forward to that.
UPDATE: Some money quotes from the Mediapart article linked to above
Quand ses collègues se crispent sur les questions identitaires et sociétales, [Philippe] se refuse à sombrer dans la surenchère.
And this
Ainsi fait-il partie des rares députés UMP à s’être abstenus sur la loi sur le mariage pour tous. « Soyons clairs : nous pensons qu’un enfant peut être élevé, et bien élevé, par un couple homosexuel », affirme-t-il en 2013, dans une tribune cosignée avec Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, expliquant son abstention par la crainte d’ouvrir le champ à la PMA et à la GPA.
And this
…son entrée à Matignon sonne bel et bien comme une revanche pour cette droite qui ne s’est jamais reconnue dans le discours identitaire et réactionnaire porté tour à tour par Nicolas Sarkozy et François Fillon. Cette droite qui s’est très tôt désolidarisée de la campagne de ce dernier, organisée entre démagogie et mensonges.
One may also mention that Philippe opposed François Hollande on the déchéance de nationalité.
Conclusion: on issues particularly important to me—my personal litmus tests, in effect—Édouard Philippe passes with flying colors.
2nd UPDATE: During the burkini brouhaha last August, Philippe was taken to task by a Front National municipal counselor in La Havre, who reproached Monsieur le Maire for his tolerant, live and let live attitude on the matter. Philippe indeed criticized other mayors for their refusal to respect the Conseil d’État’s August 26th ruling that invalidated municipal ordinances proscribing the burkini. Très bien, Monsieur le Maire.
Well, on my litmus test, I also see the flying colors diehard dude dissed the Haute Autorité in 2014, got a blame for his attitude. I see the Champ is also an amateur boxer who almost punched Sarkozy. Upbeat is good, boldness is good, temperamental we already had plenty with Valls… Well, I’ll wait and see.
The not so new new government.
Well, ni de droite, ni de gauche, ni de gauche.
I can’t say I’m disappointed because I didn’t really expect a dream team. I expected it would be highly calculated and politically balanced with a major objective : crush L.R., don’t give any reason to vote for L.R. That’s probably achieved.
At the same time, this opens a large (dead end) boulevard for Melenchon (with or without the CGT), but Chairman Macron is not afraid of Melenchon and the CGT, Melenchon and the CGT won’t be a danger in the parliament, their troops will just be noisy in the street, start Nuit Debout 2.0, create trouble, burn a few tires, break a few windows and piss the rest of France.
Of course I am not happy to see the old horses back or still in business. Bayrou (66 years old, 35 years in politics), Collomb (70 years old, 36 years in politics), Le Drihan (70 years old, 40 years in politics)… But somehow, I always knew that since this is the real world and we are talking about politics and politicians, this was going to happen. Wait and see.
Massilian: You should move this comment to the next post.
My feeling is JLM will not do nearly as well in the legislative elections as people think. Simply put winning seats in the legislature requires too much dogwork and effort for JLM’s supporters who want instant gratification. JLM would rather take to the street than do the hard work of legislative elections.
However, we shall see. I will also not that that while I am a particular fan of British politics the British election where Corbyn is expected to do quite poorly will come only days before France’s.
The more poorly La France Insoumise performs on June 18th, the happier I will be. And if JLM bites the dust in Marseille, I will be even happier yet.