Macron’s centrist party, Renaissance, is expected to come in a distant second in the upcoming European elections. Several French political parties, including France Unbowed, the Socialist Party, and Les Républicains, have announced that they will be referring President Macron to the national media regulator over a prime-time televised interview he plans to hold just days before the elections. They argue that this interview amounts to electoral propaganda and could give an unfair advantage to Macron’s party. The Elysée announced that Macron will be interviewed live by the main TV channels on topics such as the situation in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as the European elections.
Renaissance is currently being led by Valérie Hayer and is projected to secure 16.6% of the vote, placing it far behind the far-right National Rally party, which is expected to receive 31.5% of the vote. The opposition parties claim that Macron’s live interview, scheduled just three days before the election, is inappropriate and could influence the outcome of the elections. They are requesting that the speaking time during the interview be deducted from Hayer’s campaign time. The president of Les Républicains has even sent a letter to the regulator stating that the media has been unbalanced in favor of Macron.
There has been criticism of Macron’s tactics in trying to boost support for Renaissance before the elections. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal recently participated in a televised debate against Jordan Bardella, the leader of the National Rally party. This move was seen as undemocratic by other parties who were not invited to participate. Attal also interrupted a one-on-one interview with Hayer in front of a large audience, leading to accusations of panic within Macron’s party. This interference was described as humiliating and indicative of a lack of confidence in their campaign strategy.
The competition in the European elections is intense, with Renaissance struggling to maintain its second position in the polls. The Socialist Party is gaining ground, while the National Rally party continues to lead with a growing margin. Macron’s party has seen a three percentage point drop in support over the last month, leading to concerns about their ability to perform well in the upcoming elections. The controversial tactics employed by Macron and his team, including the last-minute televised interview, have raised questions about the fairness of the electoral process and the use of media resources by the incumbent party.
The opposition parties are united in their criticism of Macron’s actions, with concerns about his use of media exposure to influence the election outcome. They argue that the timing of the interview, just three days before ballots open across France, is problematic and could potentially sway voters. There is a growing sense of unease about the tactics being employed by Macron’s party in the lead-up to the elections. The media regulator will need to consider these complaints and decide on the appropriate course of action to ensure a fair and transparent election process.
