Look at moi! How D-Day anniversary is another chance for grand-standing Macron to ‘pose’ in the limelight after his threat to put ‘boots on the ground’ in Ukraine and THOSE macho boxing pictures
World leaders flocked to the beaches of Normandy today where Emmanuel Macron is presiding over two days of commemorative events on the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
For the hundreds of soldiers, politicians and even World War II veterans in attendance, these two days are reserved to pay homage to the thousands of brave men who made the ultimate sacrifice to liberate Europe from the clutches of the Nazis.
But for the French President, tomorrow doubles as a sorely needed opportunity to engage in some political grandstanding and satiate his lust for the limelight, his critics claim.
The Swiss French-language outlet Le Temps called it an ‘opportunity to pose with veterans’ adding it comes at a ‘very practical’ time for the attention-loving leader, 46.
The Elysee Palace announced on Sunday that Macron would take to the stage for an interview broadcast nationwide by France‘s TF1 and France 2 tomorrow evening, immediately after wrapping up D-Day anniversary proceedings.
His interview happens to coincide perfectly with the start of European elections that will see some 360 million people across 27 nations choose the lawmakers they wish to represent them in Europe’s Parliament.
And with his party projected to suffer defeat at the hands of the right-wing National Assembly (RN), Macron – never one to shy away from the spotlight – is expected to leverage the 80th anniversary as a backdrop to pose as a fighter of fascism and a defender of democracy.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Achille Muller, 98, last survivor of the Free French Forces, attend a ceremony on the eve of the 80th anniversary of the 1944 D-Day landings in Normandy, France June 5, 2024
French President Emmanuel Macron attends a D-Day commemoration ceremony in Normandy today
Achille Muller (L), 98, last survivor of the Free French Forces, salutes beside France’s President Emmanuel Macron (R)
French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech during the ceremony in tribute to the civilian victims of World War II, ahead of celebrations for the 80th anniversary of D-Day landing in Normandy, in Saint-Lo, France, 05 June 2024
His face set in a determined grimace, Macron aimed to show off his fighting spirit and determination in heavily curated black and white snaps earlier this year as he refused to rule out sending troops to Ukraine amid threats from Vladimir Putin
Macron’s centrist party is projected to suffer a significant loss to the far-right RN, which is expected to scoop almost one-third of the votes, in the elections which run from tomorrow to Sunday.
The president is therefore almost certain to use the valuable airtime to paint himself and his centrist Renaissance party as the foremost defenders of freedom in Europe – particularly as the Ukraine war rages on – and warn against the trend of rising support for right-wing candidates on the continent.
He is also set to discuss the European elections directly, according to a statement given by the Elysee Palace, along with other major international issues including the Israel-Palestine war.
Understandably, the principal candidates of Renaissance’s rival parties are none-too-pleased by the news that Macron had organised a primetime campaigning slot on Thursday night.
The Elysee’s announcement prompted three parties – France Insoumise (LFI), the Socialist Party (PS) and the Republicans (LR) – to lodge complaints with France’s media authority.
PS candidate Raphael Glucksmann accused Macron of engaging in ‘electoral propaganda, while Republican party leader Eric Ciotti declared in a letter to authorities that ‘never before during an electoral campaign have media interventions been so unbalanced in favour of the executive in place and to the detriment of the opposition’.
Speaking with euronews, Glucksmann chastised the French president, saying that: ‘if he was just talking about the commemorations of the landing… and the importance of that in our history, I don’t see any problem with that… But they have already said he is going to discuss the international state of affairs.
‘Never would any of our neighbours have a head of state who summons all the media to carry out electoral propaganda with three polling days left,’ he added.
Manon Aubry, head of the LFI, said it was ’embarrassing’ that Macron would be afforded a prime-time campaigning slot.
Macron launched the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the Normandy landings of Western Allied forces on 06 June 1944 that initiated the liberation of western Europe during World War II, by paying tribute to the French Resistance fighters
French President Emmanuel Macron attends a ceremony to pay homage to the Saint Marcel maquis, a force of French Resistance fighters during World War II and the French SAS (Special Air Service) paratroopers, in Plumelec, Brittany
French President Emmanuel Macron (C) and his wife Brigitte (not pictured) arrive at the ceremony in tribute to the civilian victims of World War II
All three parties will request that Valerie Hayer – the leading Renaissance candidate in this week’s elections – be docked speaking time to make up for Macron’s interview, which they claim is effectively free political campaigning.
But it should come as no surprise that Macron would seize such an opportunity, particularly at a pivotal moment when a day of remembrance of Europe’s triumph over fascism coincides with elections expected to return a significant victory for a hard-right rival.
The French President’s reputation as a lover of the limelight with a penchant for self-aggrandising PR has long been established.
He caused quite a stir at home and abroad in March when his personal photographer Soazig de la Moissonniere dropped delicately curated black-and-white snaps of him pummelling a punching bag.
The images, showing Macron sporting a steely grimace as chiselled biceps rippled from beneath his shirt, came just as he had reversed longstanding efforts to maintain relations with Vladimir Putin and refused to rule out sending French troops to Ukraine.
That cringeworthy photo-op was just one of many in a years-long campaign of staged shoots designed to portray the Elysee Palace chief as a dashing, capable and admirable representative of France and her interests.
The pictures were released by Macron’s official photographer Sazig de la Moissonniere and show the French leader in a boxing gym yesterday, where he flexed his muscles as he hit a punching bag
Macron’s pugilistic photo-op was just one in a years-long campaign of staged shoots designed to portray the Elysee Palace chief as a dashing, capable and admirable representative of France
Macron’s PR drive seeks to portray the Head of State as the complete package
US President Joe Biden (C) is welcomed by France’s Prime Minister Gabriel Attal upon arrival at Paris Orly airport near Paris, on June 5, 2024
US President Joe Biden disembarks from the ‘Air Force One’ as arrives at Paris Orly airport, near Paris, France, 05 June 2024. US President Biden arrived in France to attend the commemoration ceremonies on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of D-Day
US President Joe Biden, who will remain in France until Sunday for an uncharacteristically lengthy diplomatic visit, is also aiming to use the D-Day anniversary to drum up support across the pond.
France and the US have been among Ukraine’s foremost supporters as of late.
Washington recently passed a $61 billion military aid bill that guaranteed continued material support for the war-weary defenders, and Biden last week gave the Ukrainian armed forces permission to strike targets on Russian territory with US weapons for the first time.
Paris meanwhile is holding talks with officials in Kyiv about the possibility of deploying French soldiers on Ukrainian soil to train new recruits.
Both Biden and Macron will unite alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in France for the D-Day commemoration, and the US President is keen to use the photo op to contrast himself against election rival Donald Trump.
Trump has famously claimed he could end the Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours and has cast doubt on Kyiv’s expectations that the White House will provide continued aid in its fight against Moscow’s forces should he be elected in November.
