Europe19 March, 20264 min read
Macron Denies Meddling in Paris Mayor Race as Grégoire Accuses Him
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Grégoire accuses Macron of backing hard-right candidate Rachida Dati Macron denies meddling in Paris mayor race, saying he's too busy
Meddling Allegations
French President Emmanuel Macron vehemently denied accusations of meddling in the Paris mayoral race after Socialist candidate Emmanuel Grégoire claimed Macron personally intervened to secure the withdrawal of far-right candidate Sarah Knafo. The explosive allegations emerged just three days before the runoff election, with Grégoire describing Macron's alleged actions as a 'huge moral fault' and a 'pact with the devil' to manipulate the race in favor of his preferred candidate. Macron responded during a European Union summit in Brussels, dismissing the claims as 'indecent and slanderous lies' that 'make no sense' and 'dishonor the person who made them so bluntly.'
“Emmanuel Macron on Thursday said he's got 'more important things' to do than dabble in local politics after the Socialist Party candidate for Paris mayor, Emmanuel Grégoire, accused the French president of making 'a pact with the devil' to try to swing the race against him.”
The French leader insisted he has 'more important things to do' than involve himself in municipal politics while attending to international matters like the Middle East conflict and EU economic agenda. The controversy escalated the final stretch of a highly contentious campaign that had already seen significant political maneuvering and shifting alliances.
Specific Accusations
Grégoire, the former first deputy to outgoing Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, provided specific details about his allegations during a Franceinfo interview. He claimed that Macron 'personally intervened... to make sure that the far right withdraws to the profit of his candidate,' asserting that the French president acted 'at various levels to ensure the withdrawal of the far-right MEP Sarah Knafo, through intermediaries, with people who have historically supported Reconquête!'
The Socialist candidate described this alleged manipulation as a 'huge moral fault' and suggested Macron contacted billionaire Vincent Bolloré, whose media had propelled Eric Zemmour's candidacy in 2022, to obtain Knafo's withdrawal. Grégoire presented these serious accusations despite lacking concrete evidence, framing the situation as a conspiracy theory that demonstrated Macron's alleged double discourse between stated principles and actual political maneuvers.
Political Maneuvering
Macron's denial came amid broader political dynamics that had already seen significant realignment in the Paris mayoral race. After the first round, Macron's officials suggested Dati privately had his support, and the French leader allegedly called both Dati and former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe to encourage an alliance following Philippe's disappointing fourth-place finish. This alliance between Dati and Bournazel ultimately materialized, creating a united right-wing front against Grégoire.
“After the contest was over, Macron called Dati and the head of Bournazel's party, former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, encouraging them to make an alliance in the wake of the latter's disappointing fourth-place finish. The duo went on to join forces in a bid to defeat Grégoire in Sunday's runoff.”
The situation was complicated by Knafo's withdrawal, which narrowed the runoff field to two left candidates and one right candidate, potentially making the race more competitive despite Grégoire's strong showing in the first round. Grégoire led with 37.98%, more than twelve points ahead of Dati's 25.46%, in the first round. Macron defended his focus on international affairs during the Brussels summit, stating that 'the discussion we are having right now shows that I largely have other things to do' rather than involving himself in municipal politics.
Campaign Intensifies
The controversy unfolded against a backdrop of increasingly aggressive campaign rhetoric and personal attacks between the main candidates. In addition to the Macron allegations, Grégoire accused his main opponent Rachida Dati of making threats and insults during a heated debate broadcast on BFMTV and Le Figaro TV. Grégoire recounted that after leaving the debate, Dati told him: 'Grégoire, you're really an asshole.'
The Socialist candidate, who had served as first deputy to Dati when she was mayor of an arrondissement, dismissed the behavior as inappropriate for a potential Paris mayor. The debate drew significant attention with an average audience of 752,000 viewers and a peak of nearly one million, reflecting the high stakes of the campaign.
Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella of the National Rally further complicated the dynamics by calling for voters to 'block' Grégoire's candidacy. Bardella signaled he would vote for Dati 'in a personal capacity,' interpreted as an appeal to far-right voters.
Political Significance
Grégoire framed the broader significance of the alleged Macron intervention as part of what he described as France's 'moral and political collapse.' The Socialist candidate suggested it was 'incongruent' that the president would devote attention to municipal politics while France faces significant international and economic challenges. His accusations reflected a strategy to dramatize the stakes of the runoff election, especially after he refused to form an alliance with La France Insoumise candidate Sophia Chikirou despite her 11.72% first-round result.
“'Given the international and economic situation, it seems somewhat incongruent that the president could devote himself to these issues, given the burden he must bear,' Grégoire warned, blaming Macron for the 'moral and political collapse that the country is experiencing'.”
Grégoire's position was strengthened by his comfortable lead in the first round, but the withdrawal of Knafo and the subsequent Dati-Bournazel alliance created a more competitive scenario. The controversy also highlighted the complex relationship between national and local politics in France, with Macron's alleged involvement demonstrating how presidential influence could potentially reshape local electoral dynamics despite his claims of disengagement from municipal affairs.
