Emmanuel Macron is sending out some very mixed messages, says Didier Péron. At a public event
commemorating France’s wartime Resistance last week, he rounded on a schoolboy who’d had the
temerity to call him by the nickname “Manu”, telling him: “You address me as Mr President, or
Sir.” The 15-year-old boy, who had also been singing the socialist anthem L’Internationale, was
embarrassed, and quickly apologised. But Macron piled on the humiliation, adding: “If you want to
start a revolution, fine, but first get a degree and learn to feed yourself.” This was no momentary loss
of temper: to ensure the entire country saw it, Macron’s office tweeted a video clip of the encounter.
Many were appalled: the lad had merely made an ill-judged joke, and is said to have retreated to his
bedroom since, fearing the incident has ruined his prospects. Although “superficial”, the episode
revealed Macron’s “incoherent” image. He’s part revolutionary “disruptor”, sweeping away the old
ways. But he’s also part grandee, insisting on the old deference and privilege. This was a message to
the France of strikers and rabble-rousers: you will be “harshly reformed” in the years ahead.
