Macron's Allies Reluctant to Associate with Him in Election Campaign, Says Politico

French President Emmanuel Macron's allies are unwilling to associate with him in the lead-up to the National Assembly's snap elections, fearing that it could negatively impact their chances of re-election. This was reported by Politico's European edition.

According to the publication, even Macron's allies from the government coalition parties increasingly perceive him as "a person disconnected from reality and confused about his own appeal." A parliament member within Macron's coalition stated that he would not place Macron's image on his election posters.

A representative from Macron's "Renaissance" parliamentary group remarked that leaders in the republic "don’t quite understand the anti-establishment sentiments prevailing in France." A former anonymous staff member of the Élysée Palace described the President's decision to hold snap parliamentary elections immediately after the European Parliament elections as "a delirious act by a person thrown off course by defeat."

The publication highlights that tensions within the supporting coalition have escalated to the point where influential representatives have begun calling for the President to be somewhat overshadowed. An anonymous French parliamentarian noted that the President's key ally, former Justice Minister François Bayrou, was at the Élysée Palace on Monday evening to convey that Macron "should not get too immersed in the election campaign" and also discussed the need for "democratization" with the deputies.

It is noted that Macron's party has long been seen as merely a continuation of the President, which cannot exist without him. According to the publication, initial polls suggest that "Renaissance" may lose in the snap parliamentary elections. Politico assesses that it is entirely possible for the presidential coalition to become only the third force in French politics, after the far-right and far-left.

“The more he (Macron) speaks, the more we lose points in the polls,” said a consultant for one of the Renaissance party's deputies. On June 9, Macron decided to dissolve the National Assembly and call for snap elections after his coalition received only 14.6% of the votes in the European Parliament elections, which is significantly less than the opposition's far-right "National Rally" party that garnered 31.4% of voter support.

The first round of the National Assembly's snap elections will take place on June 30, and the second round will be held on July 7. The last time the lower house of parliament was dissolved prematurely was by President Jacques Chirac in 1997.