Top Macron Ally Quietly Waits In The Wings For French President To Be Forced Out Of Power

A top ally of French President Emmanuel Macron privately believes that the president will be forced out of power within months, leading him to launch his own presidential campaign, according to officials who spoke to Politico.

Macron has been swept up in political turmoil for weeks following his decision to hold snap elections in July, which resulted in a loss for his party and a fractured government made up of several different parties with no prime minister, the highest public office in France aside from the president. Former French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, previously considered a close ally to Macron, made a break from the president on Wednesday, declaring his candidacy for president and confirming that he was ready to run earlier than 2027, the final year of Macron’s term.

That’s because Philippe secretly thinks that Macron will be forced to step down much sooner than the end of his term, the officials who are members of Philippe’s right-wing party, told Politico. Philippe wants to “be ready” for a presidential election as soon as early 2025, party leadership said.

“He considers that everything can move,” a person close to Philippe told Politico, referencing Philippe’s belief that Macron’s political career may be heading for an end.

Macron has vowed to stay in power until the end of his term in 2027, but Philippe is prepared to make it publicly known that he believes otherwise, according to Politico. Philippe and Macron previously maintained a relationship built on rivalry and respect, with Philippe having promised “loyal but free” support for Macron’s presidency.