France: Emmanuel Macron, on the Ukrainian front and in the countryside, at the same time

On February 7, 2022, the joint press conference between the French presidents, Emmanuel Macron (L) and the Russian president, Vladimir Poutine (R).

REUTERS - POOL

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The war in Ukraine monopolizes almost 100% of Emmanuel Macron's time.

The Head of State displays his mobilization and also seeks to obtain national unity before entering the campaign.

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“A war during the presidential campaign” is unheard of, observes a minister.

For the opponents of the Head of State, this complicates the deal and for Emmanuel Macron it raises the question of his very ability to campaign, analyzes

of the political service.

The first campaign meeting of potential candidate Macron, scheduled for Marseille last weekend, had to be canceled.

He is "under pressure" observes a senior official of the majority because at the Elysée, the objective is to "raise the cost of the war" for Putin, in other words to increase the sanctions even more if necessary.

"We have a lot of room for manoeuvre, the choice is to increase the pressure", explains one in the entourage of Emmanuel Macron where one communicates almost in real time on the exchanges and diplomatic initiatives of the president of the Republic...

To prevent the situation from worsening, I suggested to President Putin that we stay in touch in the coming days.

We will resume discussions.

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) February 28, 2022

The tone is therefore very firm in the face of a Vladimir Putin described as "locked in a logic of confrontation".

A strategy that will have consequences for the French and of which Emmanuel Macron took care to inform presidential candidates and parliamentarians through the voice of his Prime Minister.

So yesterday, for example,

seven candidates for the presidential election.

A republican approach to try to obtain national unity in this serious moment, while remaining above the fray.

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• French politics

• Emmanuel Macron

• Presidential France 2022