2023-11-13 09:35:08
In the center, Emmanuel Macron during a visit to Plougastel-Daoulas (Finistère), November 3, 2023. POOL / VIA REUTERS
Shortly before the procession sets off, while a ray of sunlight tries to break through, a crazy rumor runs through the crowd of demonstrators gathered on the Esplanade des Invalides to march against anti-Semitism, this Sunday, November 12: “It seems that the President of the Republic is going to come”, hawks Emilie (who did not wish to give her name), with stars in her eyes. Alas, there was no last minute appearance by Emmanuel Macron at the “civic march”which brought together more than 100,000 people in Paris, according to the police, and tens of thousands of others throughout France.
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If the president of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet (Renaissance), and that of the Senate, Gérard Larcher (Les Républicains, LR), are there, in the front row, shoulder to shoulder with the two former presidents of the Republic Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande, the tenant of the Elysée, remained ” hidden “denounces the leader of LR deputies, Olivier Marleix. “He is the guarantor of national unity, he should have been there, reprimands the deputy for Eure-et-Loir while pounding the pavement of Boulevard Saint-Germain. By not coming, who does he want to spare? Anti-Semites? It is not by hiding that we defend the values of the Republic. » The LR president of the Ile-de-France region, Valérie Pécresse, is less severe: “Above all, he must act, she advises. Walking is good, acting is better. »
The absence of Emmanuel Macron is pointed out by other demonstrators. The filmmaker Elie Chouraqui, in particular, confides that he “I don’t understand that the president is not there, it’s a terrible mistake”. Theater producer Jean-Marc Dumontet agrees that “it would have been a strong symbol” When “the freedom camp is attacked”. But for this friend of the Head of State, the role of the President of the Republic is “to condemn the attack of October 7, to take care of the hostages, to recall the main principles”. No scrolling.
A “disappointed” descendant of Dreyfus
In reality, Emmanuel Macron will never have been as present as this weekend of November 11, saturating the public space with his words. Friday evening, the Elysée sent a three-line message to the editorial staff, in which “the president greets with respect those who, on Sunday, will march for the Republic, against anti-Semitism and for the release of the hostages”. Between the lines, we must understand that after hesitating for a long time the head of state decided not to participate in the march. But he supports her.
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