French leader's allies urge him to stay off campaign trail

The reality is that French President Emmanuel Macron has recently withdrawn from the public eye.

Apart from fulfilling scheduled international commitments, he has not been seen publicly for nearly two weeks. His allies prefer he stays off the campaign trail, and his image is even being removed from campaign materials, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

"He was told to stop [campaigning]... And it’s not really that he heard our message, it’s more that he was forced to hear it," said an anonymous official from the Renaissance party, addressing a sensitive matter.

The official added, "The president underestimated how much the public was turned off by his personality." For the outspoken and dynamic 46-year-old president, who constantly seeks the spotlight with new ideas and challenges to the status quo, this new reality is uncomfortable.

Secluded in the Elysée Palace, Macron is also considering future scenarios, including a sweeping far-right victory, a hung parliament with the National Rally as the largest group, and a coalition excluding the far right, according to several officials.

"Macron will again take the lead as the guarantor of France’s institutions," said the same party official. "If the far right wins a significant majority, Macron would be pressured to appoint National Rally leader Jordan Bardella as prime minister. If not, he could become involved in lengthy coalition negotiations with his current rivals on the left and right."

In the current pre-election period, Macron's visibility has decreased as his allies have urged him to step back from the campaign trail, focusing on strategic appearances and international commitments. This decision reflects a tactical approach to address public sentiment and political dynamics.

As the campaign progresses, the outcomes of debates, public opinion shifts, and emerging issues will continue to shape the strategies and fortunes of the various candidates and parties. The pre-election period remains a critical time for political maneuvering and voter engagement in the lead-up to the elections.