Emmanuel Macron continues to renew part of his Elysée team with the departures of his special advisor Philippe Grangeon and his communications advisor Joseph Zimet, according to the Official Journal on Tuesday, September 15.
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Head of communications, Joseph Zimet, who will step down on September 21, is replaced by Clément Leonarduzzi, president of Publicis Consultants, Influence branch of the Publicis group and specialist in crisis management.
Also published in the OJ, the appointment of Brice Blondel, who has just left his post of prefect of the Hautes-Pyrénées, as chief of staff of Emmanuel Macron to replace François-Xavier Lauch, who became deputy chief of staff of Gérald Darmanin at the ministry inside.
"A commando team"
An influential figure in Emmanuel Macron's entourage, Philippe Grangeon is leaving his duties as special adviser on Tuesday to retire.
"
There is no political interpretation
" in this decision, "
it is a choice of life
" and "
it was clear from the start that I joined the Elysee for a given time and on a voluntary basis
", he had explained to AFP.
Former head of the CFDT and then of En Marche from its creation, Philippe Grangeon was tasked at the beginning of 2019 to help Emmanuel Macron to launch “
act 2
” of his five-year term on the occasion of the “
great debate
” following the crisis "
yellow vests
".
A few months later, in August 2019, Joseph Zimet had in turn joined the Élysée to take responsibility for communication after the departure of Sibeth Ndiaye, who became government spokesperson.
This historian, who had coordinated the Centenary Mission of the First World War, was responsible for reweaving previously strained relations with journalists.
A government source told AFP in July that Emmanuel Macron wanted with these changes "
to equip himself at the Elysee with a commando team, responsible for providing results, improving the readability and the narrative of the action public and prepare for the 2022 campaign
”.
Vice-Admiral Jean-Philippe Rolland also took on the post of Chief of Staff of the President on August 1, replacing Admiral Bernard Rogel.