French MEP Stéphane Séjourné, influential political adviser to French head of state Emmanuel Macron, was elected on Tuesday October 19 president of the centrist group Renew, the third force of the European Parliament, a strategic position in the run-up to the French presidency of the 'EU.
The only candidate in the running, Stéphane Séjourné was elected by acclamation, announced the French delegation of the group he led until now.
The Dutch Sophie In't Veld, elected since 2004 to the European Parliament, had withdrawn her candidacy a week ago.
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Of the 98 elected members of the group, the French delegation, which brings together the elected representatives of the French presidential party La République en Marche (LREM) and the Modem and Agir formations, is the largest in number, with 23 members in total.
Mid-term, the presidency of this group, born after the 2019 European elections from the rapprochement of the liberals of the former ALDE group and the macronists, was released after the decision of the Romanian Dacian Ciolos, former Prime Minister, to return to national politics.
Former socialist turned macronist
This change of head in the Renew Europe group, which often has a pivotal role in the votes of the European Parliament with its 3rd place, behind the conservatives of the EPP and the social democrats of S&D, comes three months before the election of mid - Mandate of the new president of the institution which promises to be stormy between the two main groups.
36-year-old Stéphane Séjourné is very close to Emmanuel Macron, whose ascent to the Elysee Palace to become one of his main political advisers. This son of expatriates, who grew up in Spain and Argentina, is a pure product of the PS, where he first belonged to Dominique Strauss-Kahn's inner circle before embarking on the Macronian adventure. Spouse of the current government spokesperson Gabriel Attal, he follows the Head of State to the Elysee Palace, where he praises his “
unifying
” side and a fine strategist.
Elected MEP in 2019, he again became advisor to Emmanuel Macron at the end of 2020, but assured that by taking the head of Renew Europe, he gave up this role within six months of the presidential election in France, while some elected officials of the group fear a possible French tropism too marked.
"
I do not underestimate a concern
", Stayed in Le Figaro replied on Monday, assuring to be bound, for the formation of his cabinet, to "
an organization of collegial and shared responsibilities
" and to undertake to settle in Brussels to full-time.
