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"We are fine here": Edouard Philippe takes over the reins of Le Havre

2020-07-06T07:02:16.782Z


During his enthronement as mayor of Le Havre (Seine-Maritime), the former Prime Minister said he was “happy” in “the most beautiful man


"I must resume my habits," smiles Edouard Philippe, who no longer remembers very well the protocol and customs of a municipal council, while presiding over his very first meeting in Le Havre, which he has just found after three years. spent in Matignon and three days after his resignation from his post as Prime Minister. In the audience, his (ex) Minister of Public Accounts, Gérald Darmanin, and his loyal lieutenant, MEP Gilles Boyer.

A few minutes earlier, he was inducted mayor of the big port city (170,000 inhabitants). Pure formality after his victory in the second round with 58.8% of the vote against the communist Jean-Paul Lecoq. At the proclamation of the result of the vote this Sunday morning (47 votes for Philippe, 12 for Lecoq), the ex-Prime Minister rises, applauded by the municipal councilors with faces covered by their surgical mask, and is given the scarf tricolor by the outgoing mayor, Jean-Baptiste Gastinne, who ensured his "interim" and became first deputy.

Those who watch for an allusion to national politics in his very first post-Matignon speech are disappointed. Almost nothing, except an urgent call to fight abstention. "We have to convince our fellow citizens to participate," says Philippe. Voting is a civic duty and good citizenship is the cement of a nation, of a city ”. The new mayor also returns to this "very special campaign". Particular in the first round, with unusual violence in Le Havre. "In the midst of pension reform, the city had become the capital of the opposition, its permanence was tagged, the windows broken," explains a running mate. Particular also because of the Covid-19 pandemic, of which Edouard Philippe undertakes "to erase the traces in the next two years".

Raised fist

All the same, this allusion to the Parisian political microcosm. Calling for “ambition”, he immediately slips: “You always have to be careful. In France it is a word which is carried to your debit! But today, Edouard Philippe turns the page and devotes himself to the people of Le Havre. "Heu-reux" in "the most beautiful mandate that the Republic can offer", he says before a walkabout under the drizzle. "We're fine here," he says to a toddler perched on his father's shoulders. He salutes fist against fist - no handshake - the locals massed on the course, goes on selfies, tastes the moment.

"He is someone who is not proud, he has found the sea and the city he loves," says Agnes, 52, retired for illness. But he must bring us back the sun, take care of people in precariousness. "He still looks tired," said one lady. "Ah yes, he must have suffered," slices his girlfriend. "A return to basics for the Prime Minister, it's nice, I'm sure he will put his heart into his work," says Augustin, a manager in the glass industry. But one day he will return to his national destiny: President of the Republic! Returning to "his" town hall, Edouard Philippe, smiling, greets the crowd ... his fist raised.

Le Havre, July 5. Former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe at the end of the municipal council which re-elected him mayor./LP / Olivier Corsan  

"He is a loyal and faithful man"

And this mission with the majority entrusted to him by Emmanuel Macron? Gilles Boyer nuance. "This was mentioned incidentally in his interview with the president, but we still do not know the contours or the modalities, it deserves a more in-depth conversation at the start of the school year ... The idea would be to create structures, airlocks for attract elected officials who today find it difficult to place themselves either in the opposition or in the presidential majority ”. Clearly, to "make the beam work again", as Edouard Philippe would say. "But he didn't expect it to be made public," says Boyer.

The Elysee Palace communicated too quickly, as if to "tie up" a Prime Minister who leaves with an enviable popularity rating. Could he create a party? "It is not in his plans," smiles his former adviser at Matignon. In any event, Edouard will help the President of the Republic to be re-elected, in the place which will be his. He is a loyal and faithful man. "

Source: leparis

All news articles on 2020-07-06

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