David Desgouilles is a columnist for Marianne. He has published
Dérapage
(ed.
Du
Rocher, 2017) and
Their Lost Wars
, (ed. Du Rocher, 2019).
FIGAROVOX.
- Eight months after his departure from Matignon, the former Prime Minister, Edouard Philippe, will publish a book on the art of governing.
What do you expect from this book?
David DESGOUILLES.
-
On the form, we can assume that it will be pleasant to read.
Édouard Philippe was the co-author of political fiction novels.
Author myself of this kind of stories, allow me on this occasion a little novelist corporatism.
But the danger is that on the merits, precisely, Édouard Philippe romance a little his time at Matignon.
I am not sure that his action at the head of government could have been classified by the French as falling within the “art of governing”.
What to think of his stubbornness on 80 km / h when the President of the Republic had placed his five-year term in particular under the very pompidolian sign of
"Let's stop pissing off the French"
?
To tell the truth, this very juppeist psychorigidity was also able to show through during the crisis of the yellow vests (of which the grumbling against the 80 km / h was a harbinger), even more during the social movement against the pension reform, and finally during his management of the first wave of the epidemic.
Édouard Philippe remains and will remain forever the man who had assumed the ban on funerals, which constituted a civilizational retreat.
Since then, we have obviously come back to this cold and inhuman decision, which will leave traces in our society, hundreds of thousands of bereavements not having been able to take place in a decent manner.
In the same spirit, we could observe how much he had dragged his feet when the President of the Republic had decided on deconfinement, later explaining before a parliamentary commission of inquiry that the criminal risk had influenced his decision-making.
If I expect something from this book, it is because it develops this problematic of criminal risk and the consequences of this judicialization on our democracy.
Can Édouard Philippe be a recourse for Les Républicains in view of the presidential election of 2022?
Listening to Christian Jacob and Aurélien Pradié, who are running LR at the moment, or Sarkozie pundits like Nadine Morano or Brice Hortefeux, everything would only be a question of "betrayal of the family".
It is true that the rallying of Édouard Philippe to Emmanuel Macron and his later designation to Matignon may appear as such, especially in the apocalyptic context of François Fillon's campaign.
Alain Juppé himself, from his campaign for the primary, had mentioned the need for this central body, getting rid of the extreme edges of the famous omelet.
But if we look at it more coldly, the distortion of party patriotism must take a back seat.
Did Édouard Philippe betray his ideas by joining the En Marche campaign?
Certainly not.
What separates Alain Juppé from Emmanuel Macron, ideologically?
Not a sheet of cigarette paper.
In truth, a good part of Chiraquie, in any case that which communicated in admiration for the ex-mayor of Bordeaux, quickly felt at ease in this alliance of "reasonable people", this elite bloc. that Jérôme Sainte-Marie theorized, bringing together the bourgeoisie of the right and the left.
Alain Juppé himself, from his campaign for the primary, had mentioned the need for this central body, getting rid of the extreme edges of the famous omelet.
It was Macron before its time.
I cannot blame Édouard Philippe for having been faithful to his ideas.
Because only ideas and convictions count in treason.
On the other hand, if Christian Jacob and many Chiraquians who remained at LR cry out loud when we talk about Édouard Philippe, it is because they are not really at ease with their convictions, precisely.
The election at the head of LR of the Chiraquien Jacob, facing two young wolves who wanted to shake the coconut palm, and with the support of the great barons, from Nicolas Sarkozy to Laurent Wauquiez, symbolizes this embarrassment.
Nothing had to be decided.
It was just necessary to be careful not to divide further by carrying Christian Jacob, the lowest common denominator, at its head.
However, it is quite natural that a man like Eric Woerth feels more ideological proximity with Édouard Philippe than with the sovereignty of Julien Aubert.
It is also logical that Geoffroy Didier or Aurélien Pradié feel more in common on a societal level with Marlène Schiappa than with François-Xavier Bellamy.
If Édouard Philippe were to be a candidate, taking advantage of a defection of Emmanuel Macron, it would be logical that many ex-Chiraquians and even Sarkozysts naturally find themselves under his plume.
Therefore, I would only see advantages in a clarification.
If Édouard Philippe were to be a candidate, taking advantage of a defection of Emmanuel Macron, it would be logical that many ex-Chiraquians and even Sarkozysts naturally find themselves under his plume.
And that, on the other side, a candidacy resulting from the Séguino-Pasquaïenne tradition can also propose a way - and a voice - different.
Do you think the former Prime Minister will remain loyal to Emmanuel Macron?
I don't see Édouard Philippe running against Emmanuel Macron.
What would be its added value, if we still focus on ideas?
On the other hand, it is likely that he is not insensitive to the hypothesis that he could be a better candidate of the “elite bloc” than a President of the Republic completely worn out by the management of the pandemic.
Emmanuel Macron, by evoking - imprudently, in my opinion - the idea that he might not be a candidate, himself played the first notes of this little music.
Imagine that the famous referendum on ecology finally takes place this fall and that the "No" wins, for example.
Emmanuel Macron would probably not resign like De Gaulle in 1969, but could he be a candidate for his succession?
Édouard Philippe must meditate on the Appeal of Rome [Georges Pompidou told journalists during the referendum of 69 that he did not rule out his candidacy in the event of the General's defeat] while his mentor liked to evoke his
"temptation of Venice "
.
Juppeism, this story of Italian cities ...
