French civil servants have reportedly been holding secret meetings with far-right leader Marine Le Pen, dealing a blow to President Emmanuel Macron and marking a significant shift in political dynamics, according to The Economist.
Party officials and elected deputies are clandestinely convening in the back rooms of Paris to discuss a range of topics, from market risk to energy policy, in the latest humiliation for Emmanuel Macron.
According to The Economist, advisers are formulating legislative bills and crafting a comprehensive program for Le Pen’s potential first 100 days in office.
The revelation comes as a 60-page draft economic policy, prepared by Jean-Philippe Tanguy, a young RN deputy and business school graduate, was handed to Le Pen earlier this month.
Additionally, a covert group of sympathetic high-level civil servants, some retired and others still active, reportedly meets with Le Pen monthly to provide counsel.
The move is seen as an effort to bolster the “technocratic talent” within Le Pen’s party, historically lacking in this regard.
The recent recruitment of Fabrice Leggeri, the former head of Frontex, the EU border-control body, further underlines this shift. Leggeri, a graduate of the prestigious Ecole Nationale d’Administration, has joined the campaign for the upcoming European Parliament elections in June.
While some view these developments as an attempt by Le Pen’s party to court technocratic support, The Economist suggests that it may be more about neutralising influential opinion within the Parisian establishment.
The RN seems keen on convincing at least a few prominent figures to refrain from spreading alarm about the potential implications of the party’s victory.
Already making inroads, RN spokesperson Jordan Bardella was invited to debate with students at hec, a top business school in the Paris region, last November. Efforts are reportedly underway to arrange meetings with 40 business leaders. Le Pen herself recently had a public lunch with a former EDF executive, showcasing an unexpected attempt to engage with the Parisian elite.
The RN, traditionally positioning itself as the voice of the people against the Parisian ruling class, is navigating a delicate balance.
While the party denounced Macron in 2022 as a “globalist” enslaving mankind to economic logic, today’s strategy involves reaching beyond its traditional support base among the less educated to attract more educated and affluent voters.
The current focus is on reassurance. Le Pen has dropped the contentious calls for “Frexit” and has instead concentrated on core nationalist demands. The party has also undergone significant internal changes, shedding its thuggish elements and antisemitic rhetoric. With a new generation of loyalists and a revamped image, the RN aims to dispel concerns about its impact on democracy.
