An unprecedented position for a head of government. Michel Barnier underwent surgery last weekend for a “cervical injury,” as he learned in a press release distributed by Matignon. The method, relatively new on the French scene, has a flavor of transparency operation.
“Michel Barnier said from the first day of his arrival that he would give a real speech to the French. This is exactly what he is doing,” a member of the head of government’s entourage told BFMTV.com.
“Opacity is disastrous”
The head of government’s doctor clarified that the operation “went very well.” “The results of the analysis will be known in a few weeks,” says the doctor.
Proof that Michel Barnier, with a rather reserved reputation even within his own coalition, did not want to hide anything: Emmanuel Macron was warned, as was the president of the Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, the head of the Senate, Gérard Larcher , the ministers and the presidents of the parliamentary groups, that is, about sixty people.
“Opacity is disastrous when it comes to communicating, we know exactly what comes out publicly. If you don’t say anything, everyone wants to know what is happening,” analyzes Philippe Moreau-Chevrolet, a specialist in political communication.
“There is no choice but to communicate”
With a counterexample in mind, that of Kate Middleton. After announcing his hospitalization last January “for a planned surgical intervention,” the British dignitary gave almost no news for three months.
Enough to fuel numerous rumors in the UK before the Princess of Wales finally revealed that she had cancer.
“The more you communicate, the more you control the way information circulates and will be received. When politics is done, it is crucial,” says the historian specialized in the Fifth Republic Christian Delporte.
If the prime minister returned to work on Monday and appeared this Tuesday morning in the Matignon courtyard, he will not be present this Tuesday or Wednesday for current affairs in the National Assembly and the Senate. An unusual absence for the head of Government, unless he travels abroad.
“The truth is that if I hadn’t come, no one would have understood it. We would have thought there was a problem. He had no choice but to communicate,” admits an LR deputy.
“You can’t afford to falter.”
The political situation probably also played a role. At the head of a heterogeneous government coalition and a base in the National Assembly that sometimes only pays lip service to him, all with the specter of a vote of no confidence, the Prime Minister must demonstrate solid support.
“When everything depends on you, you can’t afford to give up. You frame your health problem and give the impression that you have it under control,” explains Christian Delporte.
However, state officials have historically been very secretive about his health status. Édouard Philippe, who suffered from mild autoimmune diseases, had waited until he left Matignon to speak publicly his alopecia. However, he had dealt with his vitiligo while serving as head of government.
Usual discretion of the head of state.
In 2009, Nicolas Sarkozy, then President of the Republic, suffered vagal discomfort after jogging. The Elysée took several hours to communicate.
Jacques Chirac suffered a stroke in 2005 and was hospitalized in Val-de-Grâce, in Paris, without the Elysée formally communicating. The news was revealed by the press.
As for François Mitterrand, his prostate cancerdetected just a few months after his presidential election, it would not be revealed until eleven years later, during his hospitalization.
“Humanizes Michel Barnier”
“When you are in politics, they ask you to embody a superhuman side. Obviously you have problems but you don’t show them. It humanizes Michel Barnier to say that he is like everyone else,” analyzes communicator Philippe Moreau-Chevrolet.
“Times have changed. Today, with social media and continuous news, what was possible 10 or 15 years ago in terms of secrecy is no longer possible. The Prime Minister is making this change,” deciphers an LR deputy.
The head of Government will resume his public activities on Thursday, October 31 with the Council of Ministers.
Source: BFM TV
