Almost unknown in France, Frédéric Michel is fondly remembered by the British when he was recruited. The one who “will have the delicate mission of managing Macron’s relations with the media” has a very extensive career across the Channel, explains the London daily The Daily Telegraph. “A graduate of Sciences Po Bordeaux and the London School of Economics, Michel quickly rose through the ranks of New Labor and its left-leaning think tanks.”
The lobbyist arrives in a tense context. “At a time when France is spending billions to curb rising energy prices, Macron fears the rebirth of the ‘yellow vests’ movement, which poisoned his first term.”
The daily close to the Conservative Party does not fail to recall that the man had made himself known during a British state scandal. “He was the main UK lobbyist for News Corp, Rupert Murdoch’s company, when it launched a takeover bid for British Sky Broadcasting, the satellite TV giant. He then made headlines as part of the Leveson Judiciary Committee [enquête sur les mauvaises pratiques de la presse britannique].”
After the discovery of illegal telephone tapping operated by the company of the press magnate, Frédéric Michel was accused of having received confidential information from the Labor government of Tony Blair.
Since then, the man had moved away from Rupert Murdoch to work with his son James, who notably invested in the French media Brut. By joining the French president, the task will be great. “This 44-year-old ‘Jupiterian’ head of state has often had distant and strained relations with journalists. He rarely organizes national press conferences and handpicks those who have the right to approach him.