The mayor of Le Havre, Édouard Philippe, was keen to refute any attempt to destabilizeEmmanuel Macron, as he recently announced his candidacy for the 2027 presidential election. In an interview with Paris Normandy This Saturday, September 7, the former Prime Minister said he had too much respect for institutions to engage in such maneuvers, judging the period "too dangerous" for this type of strategy.
The former head of government also expressed his wish to see Emmanuel Macron complete his term, as planned, until 2027. According to him, it is "essential for the institutions" that the President of the Republic completes his second term, thus putting an end to rumors about possible speculation about Macron's political incapacity before this deadline.
Support for Michel Barnier
Meanwhile, Édouard Philippe welcomed the appointment of Michel Barnier as prime minister, whom he is due to meet on Sunday. Describing Barnier as "methodical, solid, experienced and pro-European", Philippe pledged his support. He also stressed that Barnier has experience in coalitions, which will be useful in the current political climate.
On the local level, the mayor of Le Havre, in office since 2010 (excluding his time at Matignon from 2017 to 2020), has confirmed that he will run again in the 2026 municipal elections. Before that, he hopes to welcome Emmanuel Macron on September 12 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the port of Le Havre, a city heavily bombed during the Second World War. As for their relations, sometimes described as tense, Philippe wants to be reassuring: "If the president comes, it will go very well, I guarantee you."
