A few months after his departure from the government, Edouard Philippe was back at the Elysee Palace to be awarded the cross of Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor by Emmanuel Macron.
A symbolic moment that highlights the existing relationship between the Head of State and the former tenant of Matignon.
In front of a few guests, Edouard Philippe made his return to the Elysee Palace.
This Tuesday, the former Prime Minister was made Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor by the Head of State, Emmanuel Macron, after three years of work at Matignon.
A ritual decided by Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008 and adopted since for each Prime Minister who has led the government for at least two years.
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"Your beard has become the face of the crisis," said Emmanuel Macron.
A beard that the French have seen whiten over the months and which characterizes the former tenant of Matignon.
For the occasion, the President of the Republic retraced their history during their three years side by side.
"We did not know each other before 2017 but we found each other well," recalls Emmanuel Macron.
"You still have a lot to contribute to the Republic"
The Head of State took advantage of the ceremony to draw a more intimate portrait of Edouard Philippe, explaining that his former Prime Minister had a pronounced taste for Corona beer and Tagada strawberries.
The two men continue to maintain a very cordial, almost friendly relationship.
"The honeymoon is back," laughs one of the guests.
And for good reason, Emmanuel Macron drew a glowing portrait of the current mayor of Le Havre during his decoration. "You still have a lot to contribute to the Republic," he said. For those close to Edouard Philippe, these barely concealed statements leave a guaranteed future in politics for the one who occupied the offices of Matignon during the first three years of the quinquennium.