Confidence of a walker from the start, a few hours before Edouard Philippe's return on the set of an 8 pm newspaper: "We are going to watch, it will be interesting ... And it will get us out of the Covid a bit."
The same, however, can not help but this sting: "He is not going to say anything, as usual.
" To have.
Because some non-responses sometimes speak volumes.
However, the former Prime Minister, who came there to promote "Impressions and clear lines", the book he co-wrote with his old friend Gilles Boyer, published by Lattes, has maintained the ambiguity that annoys Macronists.
Especially in the face of this latent question on the presidential election, which crossed the front page of “Paris Normandy”: “Does he think about it without shaving?
It was obviously asked to him on Sunday evening.
From the outset and on numerous occasions.
What is he going to do ?
“Try to participate with what I think, what I believe, in the public debate which, I hope, will begin,” he replies.
Which does not say how… “This is not the subject of the French.
Doing things in the right order starts with asking what to do for the country.
You have to start with ideas, ”argues a relative echoed.
"The ridge line is hard ..."
We submit this sentence to him, which was loaned to him in the press: "In any case, I will not be a candidate, unless Emmanuel Macron was not.
"A little stiff, Philippe assures us that he never" speaks on these subjects ".
Then slips: "I don't think I said it, anyway, I'm not sure I said it publicly.
"Not finding him" uncomfortable ", an adviser to the executive observed:" The crest line is hard ... "
Then comes this statement in the form of an allusion on the occasion of an exchange with Thomas Pesquet, also invited: "We start first by defining the mission, we first start by defining the flight plan and then we choose commander.
“Does he feel in solidarity with the government's action, we ask him?
“I never criticize her,” he said, adding: “I am not a member of the majority, in the sense that I am not a parliamentarian”.
One year before the presidential election, his skilfully orchestrated promotional campaign was not without causing some excitement among the Macronists.
“It's starting to show its teeth, we feel that there are more concerns than before, but everyone is in the dark.
Like the Philippists elsewhere, ”breathes a Walker.
In Emmanuel Macron's entourage, even those who ensure that they do not doubt the loyalty of Edouard Philippe remain attentive to the "media treatment" of this promotional tour.
"We can see that he is weaving his ball"
After this Sunday, will the annoyance and questions redouble behind the scenes?
“He is free in his convictions, but loyal.
In my opinion, he does not leave any suspense, even if we can see that he is weaving his ball ”, tempers a framework of the majority.
When asked if he will do everything to ensure that Emmanuel Macron is re-elected, Edouard Philippe, recalling his three years spent at Matignon, replies: "I cannot be today the one who would like failure.
"
The fact remains that those who present it as an established fact in the press annoy him and his entourage.
A ministerial adviser abounds: "He remains very loyal to the president, but excites the whole Macronie with his answers.
Because concerning his intentions, this Sunday evening there were more impressions than clear lines.