Macron and the Diagonal of Power: Dissolution and Political Strategy

With the dissolution of the National Assembly, a major political upheaval has taken place in France. The political and economic landscape is likely to be completely reshuffled. Emmanuel Macron is already looking ahead to the future, as if he had little faith in the current political class’s ability to carry out far-reaching reforms in France in the face of technological and sociological changes. We are clearly witnessing a meticulously calculated political strategy. If political realities and opinion polls still hold any weight, Emmanuel Macron should be able—barring any unfortunate mishaps—to emerge from the dissolution process personally unscathed. From the very beginning of his term, he has undertaken a profound renewal of French political life. With an eye toward an upcoming shift in the parliamentary majority, his ultimate goal appears to be the ideological deconstruction of France’s political landscape. The political situation in France is currently chaotic. The reshaping of the political landscape is on the agenda, but it seems that Macron is determined to shake things up within the ranks of both the majority and the opposition. In addition to the alignment of the stars that has worked in his favor, he is also a master of political maneuvering. Can one fault a musician for his virtuosity? Macron will unhesitatingly present the bill for the crisis to the recalcitrant Gauls. To understand the current issues, we must take a step back. Emmanuel Macron, elected president in 2017, quickly drew mixed reactions. Some saw him as a reformer, while others were skeptical. This unpopularity intensified with the Yellow Vests crisis, marked by violent protests and scathing criticism.From the very beginning of his term, Macron was criticized for statements deemed out of touch with reality. His «sound bites,» often perceived as arrogant, fueled resentment. Among the most famous: «I’ll cross the street and find you a job,» «People who are nothing,» and »the illiterate female workers at Fleury Michon«—and what about that sound bite about the “rebellious Gauls”...?

These statements helped shape the image of a distant and elitist president. The Yellow Vests crisis, which began in November 2018, marked a turning point. Initially sparked by a fuel tax hike, the movement quickly came to embody broader discontent. Macron was the direct target of the protesters’ anger and hatred. The prefecture in Le Puy-en-Velay was set on fire, symbolizing the deep rejection of him personally by a significant portion of the population. The psychological shock of the insults and the hateful nature of the remarks was severe for the president, who has not forgotten a single detail of this infamy directed against him. .

The process of normalizing the far right is a continuation of the strategy pursued by its predecessors, François Mitterrand and Jacques Chirac.

The rise of the far right in France is not a sudden phenomenon. The process of normalizing the far right is the result of decades of political strategies and socioeconomic changes. Among the key events, François Mitterrand’s actions in the 1980s played a central role. Mitterrand gave Jean-Marie Le Pen’s National Front (FN) greater visibility in order to split the right-wing electorate.Le Pen’s appearance during prime time in 1984 legitimized his ideas. In 1986, Mitterrand pushed through a change in the electoral system that allowed the FN to win 35 seats in the National Assembly. This maneuver had lasting consequences, contributing to the normalization of the far right. Emmanuel Macron appears to be following the same strategy as Mitterrand. Analysts share this view, and commentaries such as that in the British newspaper The Times suggest that Macron hopes to weaken the RN by exposing it to the challenges of governing. This scenario contrasts with his 2017 victory speech at the Louvre, where he promised to ensure that voters would no longer have any reason to vote for extremist parties. In the meantime, while the dissolution of the National Assembly due to parliamentary deadlocks may have been necessary, the timing chosen by Macron remains debatable. A dissolution after the Olympic Games might have been more appropriate.

Despite the formation of a new Popular Front on the left, it is likely that we are heading toward an ungovernable National Assembly should the National Rally or the new Popular Front secure a relative majority. The normalization of the far right is the result of political maneuvering, socioeconomic changes, and cultural dynamics. Mitterrand’s intervention played a crucial role in giving the FN media and political visibility, a strategy that transformed the French political landscape. Is Emmanuel Macron, then, a Machiavellian President of the Republic?

Emmanuel Macron has maneuvered skillfully since his reelection, shifting French society to the right. He has exploited the Republican Party and manipulated the RN and Nupes without their knowledge or consent. He has shaped French politics to his own ends, using unsavory but effective methods to upend the French political landscape. .

The president is very much in the tradition of Machiavellian heads of state, such as François Mitterrand. Like Mitterrand, Macron seems to possess this “diagonal of power” based on a perfect balance of intellectual discernment, practical and creative intelligence, and the ability to maneuver according to the circumstances.

In conclusion, we would say that, in a challenging national and international context, Emmanuel Macron possesses the qualities needed to successfully lead France’s ideological, moral, political, and economic transformation. He is following in Mitterrand’s footsteps, skillfully navigating the political landscape. Can we seriously blame him for following in this tradition, given the deteriorating political, economic, and financial situation?

The rise of the far right reflects the deep divisions in French society, a reality that Emmanuel Macron must address seriously. The price that the resistant Gauls will have to pay for this crisis will undoubtedly be very high, but it is necessary for the country’s future.

Here’s a Creole proverb to ponder: «Chakmoun sav sa i ka bouyi an kannari a-y» (Everyone knows what’s cooking in their own pot). The moral of the story: No one knows you better than you do when it comes to personal strategy.