French Politics: Is Macron’s sweetness and light image under attack? Zut Alors!

Whilst we sit and watch the dirt being thrown on a number of French politicians, one wonders whether or not the French media darling who is currently favourite to win the French Presidential election, Emmanuel Macron, is immune.

Macron’s campaign manager, Richard Ferrand, has recently accused Russian media outlets of spreading ‘fake news’.  Russian fake news seems to be quite a popular theme these days; I rather liked the story they did on Trump and the nice ladies who were extending their hospitality to him whilst he was visiting Russia.

One Russian media publication, Sputnik, has alleged that Macron is backed by a ‘very rich, gay lobby’.  He probably is; but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have other supporters too.  Other Russian media outlets, (the FT article does not quote which), have accused him of being ‘an appointee of the global elite’ (FT, 14.2.17).  They are scraping the bottom of the barrel.  Macron may be a former banker but he took a drop in salary to enter politics, at President Hollande’s behest.  Furthermore, what political establishment hasn’t been accused of being ‘an appointee of the global elite’?

Macron has also been forced to deny allegations of having an ‘extramarital gay affair with the radio boss Mathieu Gallet’ (FT, 14.2.17).  Apparently in France it’s okay to have a mistress but not okay to have a gay lover.

Ferrand has also expressed concern that a Russian blogger has accused Macron of staying at the French embassy in Lebanon ‘at the expense of the taxpayer’.  I’m sure there are more expensive places to stay in Lebanon than the French Embassy but nonetheless,  this has been denied.  There is no proof to substantiate the claim but once these things are in print, a lot of damage can be done, however unsubstantiated the claims may be.

Forgive me whilst I say here that I would hate to be a politician.  I don’t think I would have the staying power to take all the mud that would be slung at me: politics is a very dirty game.

Sources:

FT article in which Macron’s campaign manager, Richard Ferrand, accuses Russian media outlets of spreading ‘fake news’:

https://www.ft.com/content/360aaf0f-875c-3373-8584-ca6a5aff748f

Featured image source:

http://atozforex.com/news/france-economy-minister-emmanuel-macron-resigned/