France: Macron Turns to Ex-President for Aid amid ‘Yellow Vests’ Protests

Local Editor

French President Emmanuel Macron, widely considered a left-wing liberal, seems to have turned to his right-wing predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy — who led France from 2007 to 2012 — for assistance, as the "Yellow Vests" protests ravage the country.

On December 7, the current and the former presidents met at the Elysee Palace for a lunch. They discussed public order as well as Macron's recently announced tax exemption for overtime work, Le Figaro reported.

Roughly a week after the meeting, on December 16, Macron sent Sarkozy to Tbilisi, Georgia, to represent France at the inauguration of Georgia's new president, Salome Zurabishvili — a move that "caused a stir in French political circles," according to Reuters.

The official reason for picking Sarkozy to attend the inauguration was his mediation between Russia and Georgia during the Seven-Day War of 2008.

Sources close to the former president say this was Macron's way to send a signal to right-wing voters in France, who have been shocked by images of burning cars in upscale areas of Paris and Macron's attempt to placate the protesters with costly handouts.

"Emmanuel Macron has understood the personal and political benefit he could draw from [Sarkozy]," according to a source cited by Reuters.

Francois Patriat, a senator and close ally of Macron, suggested that in sending Sarkozy to Georgia, Macron had an internal political goal in mind.

He seeks to undermine Laurent Wauquiez, the leader of the conservative Republicans, the biggest opposition party, to which Sarkozy also belongs, Patriat added.

"By sending this signal, Macron is taking a pop at Wauquiez."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team