Copy and paste. On Wednesday evening, on France 2, President Emmanuel Macron slipped into the clothes of Nicolas Sarkozy, using the same words, the same clichés, and displaying the same obsessions. "I believe in the side of order, the side that rewards work and merit," the former president had said on Sunday, October 23, in Le Journal du dimanche. "I believe in a France of work and merit," his successor parroted three days later, repeatedly extolling the virtues of "order" against those at both political extremes, who he said were seeking "disorder." The president also said he wanted a "strong France" – Mr. Sarkozy's campaign slogan in 2012.
The president also drew inspiration from his predecessor by asserting that the partial tax exemption of overtime – a flagship measure of Mr. Sarkozy's presidency in 2007-2012 – would be "intensified." He mentioned his wish to "harden the rules" via a new law to better "fight against illegal immigration," an idea dear to Mr. Sarkozy. On pensions, Mr. Macron also followed in the footsteps of his predecessor – who had raised the legal retirement age to 62 – and insisted on the need for a new reform.
By saying that he was in favor of an "alliance" with Mr. Sarkozy's party Les Républicains (LR) MPs in the Assemblée Nationale for the adoption of certain texts, Mr. Macron also responded directly to Mr. Sarkozy, who had suggested that he abandon the "simultaneous" approach in order to turn more openly to the right and conclude "a political agreement" with it.
A discreet lunch at the Elysée Palace
The rhetorical and ideological borrowings owed nothing to chance. Le Monde learned that Mr. Sarkozy and Mr. Macron had a low-key lunch on Tuesday at the Elysée Palace, on the eve of the president's televised interview. Their relationship had somewhat cooled since the summer. During the presidential campaign, Mr. Macron had reiterated shows of respect for his predecessor to get his good graces and weaken Valérie Pécresse and the right.
But Mr. Sarkozy has felt less influential since then. Annoyed by the "simultaneous" approach, he also does not forgive Mr. Macron for choosing former Socialist Elisabeth Borne as his prime minister, despite having initially planned to name former Sarkozy spokesperson Catherine Vautrin.
In private, Mr. Sarkozy has said he is very disappointed by the first six months of Mr. Macron's second term, which he considers to be timid, paralyzed and left-leaning. By sending messages via Le Journal du Dimanche, and then in person during their lunch, he would like to try to influence the president some describe as "Chiraquized." Mr. Sarkozy had already gauged his influence over the young president during the Yellow Vest movement: a mutual friend of theirs said that during a tête-à-tête he helped the president "get back on his horse." Two days later, Mr. Macron announced tax-free overtime as he yielded on the great demand of "working more to earn more," Mr. Sarkowy's famous campaign slogan.
From 'progressivism' to a 'France of merit'
During their lunch on Tuesday, Mr. Sarkozy was able to tell Mr. Macron what he thought of the political moment, which he considers critical. He urged him to take risks and stick to the country's mood, clearly "to the right." For his part, Mr. Macron, as he seeks to expand his majority, knows that he will not be able to address the upcoming reforms – particularly the pensions and immigration bills – without the support of the LR group, in the Assemblée and Sénat.
The president knows that Mr. Sarkozy has disappointed many of his party's members and exasperated its leaders (the three candidates for party leadership have publicly broken with him). However, he still believes his predecessor remains a key figure in the right-wing electorate and for a handful of LR MPs who he believes are ready to join the majority or work more closely with it.
After installing the "progressivism" vs "populism" divide during the beginning of his first term, Mr. Macron intends to instill a new divide between the "France of merit" and the "France of disorder." He believes that his predecessor can support his strategy. "It's very good if things have calmed down with Sarkozy," he wrote in 2020 to former health minister Agnès Buzyn, who told him of a run-in with the former president during the municipal elections campaign. "He is very emotional and exotic, but better to have him neutral or on our side," he added. Duly noted, then.