Le Monde: Macron shielding every aspect of his life from public scrutiny

French President Emmanuel Macron is making every effort to keep all aspects of his life as private as possible to avoid the fate of his predecessor, François Hollande, who became embroiled in a scandal after being photographed by paparazzi, according to the newspaper Le Monde.

“Hyper-cloistered,” “super-paranoid,” “enigmatic”—these are the words Macron’s close associates use to describe the President of the Republic today, the publication writes. Le Monde recalls how in 2014, Macron was among those closely observing the fallout from François Hollande’s scandal, when the then-president was photographed on a scooter on Rue du Cirque in Paris’s 8th arrondissement, on his way to a secret meeting with actress Julie Gayet. At the time, Macron, serving as Deputy Secretary General of the Élysée Palace, witnessed the “explosion” from the inside. The lesson he drew was that François Hollande had been either insufficiently cautious or inadequately protected.

Another event that reinforced Macron’s belief in the need for a veil of secrecy was the hacking of his team’s email accounts during the 2017 presidential campaign, which was allegedly carried out by “Russian hackers.” As reported at the time, 20,000 emails were leaked online in the midst of the campaign. Although the incident didn’t prevent Macron from winning the election, the subsequent attacks on his relationship with his wife, Brigitte, deeply affected him.

Since then, life at the Élysée Palace has become “more closed than ever,” according to sources quoted by the publication. Mindful of Hollande’s scandal, Macron avoids visiting private residences and usually restricts himself to familiar restaurants in the 6th, 7th, and 15th arrondissements of Paris. There, he always chooses a seat at the back of the room, facing the wall and surrounded by security.

Moreover, after assuming office, Macron limited the Ministry of the Interior’s access to information about his movements to prevent leaks. Even within the presidential security service, he designated five “trusted” officers who accompany him during walks in Paris or attendance at social events.

The president also regularly takes legal action against anyone spreading rumours about him or his wife, including a paparazzo who followed him while he was vacationing near Marseille. Control over the “proper” presentation of media content has been entrusted to 77-year-old Michèle Marchand, a prominent figure in the world of paparazzi and celebrity press.