The image is unprecedented to say the least.
A President of the Republic filming himself alone with his phone, in a t-shirt, to offer to answer questions directly on social networks.
This Monday morning, from the fort of Brégançon (Var), Emmanuel Macron posted a video message on Instagram and TikTok, two social networks popular with young people, in order to propose himself to dispel the doubts of a population still fairly little vaccinated against Covid-19.
"I know that yet many of you are still wondering, are afraid, many hear false information, false rumors, sometimes anything you have to say, so I decided to answer your questions directly.
Go ahead, put them to me and I will try to be as direct and as clear as possible, ”explains Emmanuel Macron, a tricolor in the background.
VIDEO.
Vaccination: Emmanuel Macron beats the recall on Instagram and TikTok
"A race against time is underway with the Delta variant, and the circulation of the virus is more important among young people", recalls the Elysee, which specifies that being an age group "little vaccinated", there is a challenge to "answer their doubts and questions".
Out of about 9 million 18-24 year olds, only 3.5 million have started the vaccination cycle according to the Élysée.
Emmanuel Macron runs in the afternoon in a second video, then a third to try to twist the neck to persistent fake news on the subject.
"The vaccine saves lives, the virus kills", he sums up at the end of the last message.
Convince the hesitant
This speech also comes just after the mobilization against the health pass, which brought together some 200,000 people on Saturday July 31 across the country. If the Elysee ensures that officially there is no link, and that during the same weekend, 530,000 people received a dose of vaccine, the timing is not trivial. "The link is obvious," mutters with a smile a relative of the president, validating the idea of a counter-offensive. "This message was necessary, to distinguish between legitimate doubts (
Editor's note: on vaccination
) and unjustifiable violence (which
occurred during certain demonstrations
)", slips a minister.
A government adviser extends the idea: “The objective here is to win the vaccine-skeptics from the refractory to everything.
Emmanuel Macron wants to address the soft stomach, convince those who hesitate.
"Convincing young people may be able to help convince others reluctant to the vaccine", hopes for his part the president of the presidential majority group in the Senate, François Patriat.
Read also What weighs Emmanuel Macron on social networks after four years at the Elysee?
For the leader of the Les Patriotes party and co-organizer of the demonstrations, Florian Philippot, Emmanuel Macron has it all wrong.
“He thinks people are protesting because they haven't understood, he's totally missing out on what's going on.
We don't care about his answers, we want him to listen to the people on all the subjects raised by the health pass.
"And to mock a president who" wants to be an influencer "and merges with" a Pfizer VRP ".
So, a crackdown on the networks like a sword in the water?
His first three videos have in any case totaled several million cumulative views.
It also remains a way for Macron to continue his operation to seduce young people started in the spring with YouTubers McFly and Carlito, just nine months before the presidential election.