Emmanuel Macron wants to 'piggyback' on Gabriel Attal's popularity, said Margot Faraci (Image: GETTY)
Emmanuel Macron’s dwindling popularity and increasing difficulty connecting with voters have prompted him to appoint youthful Gabriel Attal as his new Prime Minister in the hope of getting a boost, an expert in French politics has said.
Margot Faraci also believes the circumstances which the French President currently faces, not least the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, are “uniquely complex” and could not have been anticipated when he was elected seven years ago.
The specialist in global leadership who has worked for global companies including Macquarie Bank, NAB, Seek.com, Ashurst, and CBA, was speaking after Mr Macron replaced Elisabeth Borne with 34-year-old Attal, who became France’s youngest ever PM.
Ms Faraci said: “It’s common for politicians to arrive on a wave of popularity and find themselves in unpopular territory as the reality of governing sets in.
“If a politician is elected on a reform agenda, as Macron was, and there is a strong opposition in place, it increases the likelihood of their popularity waning.
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Marine Le Pen's popularity is surging, said Margot Faraci (Image: GETTY)
“The resurgence of populism via Marine Le Pen’s RN creates in Macron a lighting rod for French voters who feel isolated and disconnected: Le Pen’s role is to drive distance between Macron and these voters.”
As for Mr Attal’s appointment, Ms Faraci explained: “The replacement of Borne (whose popularity was even lower than Macron’s, at 23 percent) with Attal enables Macron an attempt at using Attal’s popularity to boost his own.”
She said: “Macron’s appointment of Attal - the most popular politician in France - is an exercise in supreme pragmatism to that end. He means we can only assume, to piggyback on Attal’s popularity and give himself the best chance of both increasing his own popularity now and staying in power in the next election.”
Like Mr Macron, Mr Attal was “pragmatic, modern and free from political dogma”, Ms Faraci stressed.
Gabriel Attal is an excellent communicator, said Margot Faraci (Image: Getty)
She added: “His communication skills and political instincts are excellent. Macron overlooked other candidates with far greater experience (which will no doubt cause disgruntlement within his troops) to appoint Attal as something of a ‘cleanskin’.
“The question is: once the brutal reality of governing commences, will Attal’s popularity remain?”
Agreeing that Mr Macron was currently “on the ropes”, Ms Faraci highlighted three different aspects which determined a leader’s efficiency: their own leadership, their followers and the context.
She said: “Looking at Macron’s own leadership: his popularity has waned. At 27 percent Macron’s approval rating falls far short of the 46 percent he enjoyed upon being elected the first time in 2017."
He had lost his parliament majority and had to make concessions to the far right to pass legislation, Ms Faraci pointed out
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Gabriel Attal has replaced Elisabeth Borne as France's Prime Minister (Image: GETTY)
She added: “In terms of his followers: his followership is shaky. Throughout his presidency, he has been working against powerful forces in Le Pen’s far-right RN, whose job it is to bring together any disaffected voters - who would otherwise be on the edge of Macron’s centre - and appeal to their sense of isolation.”
RN was doing this “very effectively”, with Ms Le Pen, and close ally Jordan Bardella, both enjoying what Ms Faraci called a “resurgence in popularity”.
She added: “As to context, Macron’s is uniquely complex. His circumstances were both unimaginable in 2017 and unprecedented for modern French presidents.
“First, Macron has been at the frontline of European dialogue between Ukraine and Russia, and is still publicly offering to speak with Vladimir Putin (as recently as December).
“Next, the war between Hamas and Israel has singularly difficult ramifications in France given the country was already on its highest alert level based on ongoing unrest: 2023 already saw protests in the banlieues due to alleged police brutality and the war has triggered a rise in both antisemitic activity and Islamist terrorist attacks.
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“Third, France’s financial context is jittery. Having spent generously throughout Covid, Macron cannot now spend his way to popularity.”
Lastly, Mr Macron’s “reform agenda” required the French public to make compromises, with his decision to increase the retirement age both “wildly unpopular” and “economically necessary”, Ms Faraci suggested.
She said: “France’s unemployment rate – at seven percent - is unacceptably high and must be addressed for both economic and social stability. More difficult reforms are required.
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Macron’s great strength, however, is his pragmatism, Ms Faraci argued.
She emphasised: “He refuses to subscribe to traditional political doctrines, instead choosing a path he – ostensibly at least – believes is right. While his concessions to the far right in parliament have lost him some support, they also demonstrate his pragmatism, getting done what’s possible, not what’s ideal.
“A political leader’s job is to stay in power. If they’re not, they can’t fulfil the purpose which drove them to politics.”
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