At the Giscard convention, ulterior motives, petty nonsense and nostalgia | EUROtoday

Anniversary convention in entrance of prestigious ground. Died on December 2, 2020, within the midst of a well being disaster, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, who had not wished a nationwide tribute, left the stage discreetly, at 94 years previous. Almost 4 years later, Monday May 27, for the 50^e anniversary of his inauguration on the Elysée, your complete Republic of immediately and yesterday marched to pay tribute to him, on the event of a convention organized by the Valéry-Giscard-d'Estaing Foundation, below the aegis of the Institut de France. The alternative for the invited political leaders to ship, amid unanimous reward to this president who was nonetheless so unloved throughout his lifetime, some subliminal messages, a few of which aren’t very nice.

“I threw the grudge into the river”, as soon as stated “VGE”, which has lengthy criticized Jacques Chirac for having precipitated his defeat towards François Mitterrand. This isn’t the case for Nicolas Sarkozy who took benefit of this platform to settle just a few scores, opposing Giscard, all of the sudden adorned with all of the virtues, to Chirac. He notably recounted how the primary one had proven himself ” delicate “ And “considerate” on the time of his divorce from Cécilia, “to inquire[ant] to know [s’il] didn't have[t] not too much trouble »while the second, apparently more naturally sympathetic, had not shown as much “sensitivity”despite the fact that he had recognized him since “much longer”.

Nicolas Sarkozy additionally couldn't resist throwing just a few barbs at François Hollande, who had “so kindly accompanied” (the socialist had not waited for his departure from the Elysée court docket earlier than returning to the palace), on the day of the switch of energy, which the defeated president by no means digested: “It reminded me of the outing that had been organized for Giscard, those whistles…. This mediocre hatred, I felt it, and it brought me closer [de lui]. »

Praise of “rationality”

For his half, Edouard Philippe was impressed by Giscardism to higher distinguish himself, implicitly, from Emmanuel Macron, whose succession he’s in search of. He, who has little style for the impulsiveness of the president, praised the “rationality”, trademark of the previous president. Just as he praised the studying of the Constitution made by Giscard, who – as ex-minister Dominique Bussereau recalled – “did not govern in a monarchical manner”had “a very small office” And “did not see his ministers”. “Presidenting and governing are two various things. Giscard understood that he shouldn’t wish to govern. I'm satisfied he was proper.”stated Edouard Philippe, in a barely masked assault on the presidency, each vertical and jack-of-all-trades, of Emmanuel Macron.

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