The return of optimism.
Wednesday afternoon, Emmanuel Macron coaxes the ends of the cabbage in front of journalists.
The president came to visit a maternal and child protection center (PMI) in Longjumeau (Essonne).
On his Instagram account, a few minutes earlier, he published a video that goes back to the reason for this trip: “Until now, paternity leave was 14 days,” said the president, filmed at the Golden Salon, his ceremonial office.
And to announce: “It was not enough.
We are going to increase paternity leave to one month!
"
This measure results from the report on the "first 1000 days" requested by the executive to the famous neuropsychiatrist Boris Cyrulnik.
It will undoubtedly remain as one of the flagship societal measures of the five-year term.
In the process, the Elysée posted on social networks a photo of the president carrying a little boy in his arms.
The caption reads: “28 days to support the first moments of our children.
"
"A campaign is launched"
The communication operation contrasts with the ambient depression.
"There is not only the Covid in life, we can not only blood and tears, summarizes a ministerial adviser.
It is important to show that we continue to move forward.
"If the president was keen to reveal the content of this reform himself rather than leaving the first to his Prime Minister Jean Castex or to his Secretary of State in charge of Children and Families Adrien Taquet, it is is that he has changed his strategy.
“A campaign is launched.
In this context, there is a distribution of roles at the top of the State, confesses an influential adviser.
Macron is more focused on the good news, such as equal opportunities and extended paternity leave.
The more anxiety-provoking subjects, such as the economy, the epidemic and security, it's Castex ”.
Thus, it is he who enumerates, on September 11, the number of departments classified in the red zone, recommends to the seniors the "prudence" and asks the French "to show a responsibility at all times".
In short, the bad role ...
"Stop wanting everyone to make announcements!"
"
Anxious to arrogate to himself the strong messages, the Head of State warned his ministers during the government seminar.
"Stop wanting everyone to make announcements!"
"While the major maneuvers began on the left as on the right and the shadow of Edouard Philippe is increasingly pressing, the head of state takes control.
He accelerates so as not to stay at the dock.
"The timer started for him, more than 18 months before the presidential election", summarizes a minister.
"The president wants to be more on the ball", we recognize in his entourage.
Translation: "He is already on the campaign trail," according to a prominent LREM parliamentarian.
Rediscovering a taste for small phrases, he recently mocked environmentalists when they called for a moratorium on 5G, comparing them to followers of the “oil lamp” and to the “Amish”, this religious community. American who refuses progress.
At the same time, Emmanuel Macron is increasing the number of trips.
Sometimes, the scenography is polished, as in the Panthéon.
Sometimes, he drops the jacket as a sign of simplicity as in the Gers, last week.
On October 2, despite the holding of the European Council, he maintained the idea of traveling to France to present the long-awaited bill on "separatism", assures the Elysee.
In his various speeches, he refines a formula dear to his memory advisor Bruno Roger-Petit, which he brandishes like a future slogan.
It is “the French art of living”.
In recent days, he has used the expression many times to talk about the Republic, heritage and the Tour de France… “It means a particular way of living in freedom!
We have a cuisine, a literature, a music, a cinema which, everywhere, swarms in the world, comments the former journalist.
And in sport we invented the modern Olympics.
"
Behind the scenes, the words are less flattering.
"The president has entered a new era, it is obvious," confides a member of the government.
The tone is no longer the same in the Council of Ministers where the pressure is maximum on everyone's shoulders.
The president wants to be able to post results!
"Emmanuel Macron asks the government to be on the attack on the results, so it is normal that he sets an example by going to see the changes on the ground", explains a relative.
All ministerial cabinets received “results sheets” to fill in, with indicators on the progress of reforms.
A counselor blows: “We are under tension.
The time to take stock is approaching.
