Could Bruno Retailleau become France's next president?
Emmanuel Macron appeared on French television last week and spoke for three hours without saying anything of interest. It was a damning indictment of his eight years in office. The country is up to its eyes in debt, ravaged by insecurity and overwhelmed by immigration, but Macron told the country that none of it is his fault. On the contrary, the President scolded the French for being 'too pessimistic'.
The disdain is mutual. A poll conducted in the wake of the President's interminable television interview found that 71 per cent of the people consider him to be a 'bad' president. As to the idea that Macron might stand for re-election in 2032 (the French constitution precludes an incumbent serving three consecutive terms), 84 per cent of people expressed their opposition to the idea.
'Macronism' is on its last legs and the question for France is what follows.
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