Having the support of respected politicians is nice, unless it gives ammunition to your rivals — in this case, conservative candidate François Fillon and far-right leader Marine Le Pen. They have been relentless in depicting Macron as a younger version of François Hollande, who co-authored the president’s policies as economy minister and would pursue them if he wins. If too many ministers join and say that Macron is their man, it will play into Fillon and Le Pen’s hand. [...]
But the center-left candidate has also been reluctant to open a big tent for Socialist officials shocked or disappointed by their party’s official candidate Benoît Hamon, whose lackluster campaign on a utopian, far-left platform has been fiercely critical of Hollande’s presidency.
Macron keeps reminding interviewers and audiences that his decision to run as an independent was triggered by “strategic divergences” with Hollande on how to reform France. Macron believes the big parties — the conservative Les Républicains and the Socialist Party — have already had their opportunity. [...]
Macron has also built his campaign on the need to renew France’s political personnel and mores. His movement, En Marche, has started screening candidates for June’s parliamentary elections. Socialists who rush to his support may just be perceived as trying to save their own jobs, and Macron has made it clear that they should not expect preferential treatment when En Marche selects its candidates. “We’re not opening a bed & breakfast here,” said one of Macron’s top advisors. “This is not a recycling machine for lost Socialist careers,” said Macron’s top spokesman Benjamin Griveaux.
No comments:
Post a Comment