Macron Denies Meddling in Paris Mayor Race as Grégoire Accuses Him

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.

“Chikirou's continued bid, which also surpassed the 10% threshold in the first round, threatens to deprive Socialist Grégoire of the necessary support from left-wing voters”

El Mundo

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.

El Mundo

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.'

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.

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!'

El Mundo

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.

Macron's denial came amid broader political dynamics that had already seen significant realignment in the Paris mayoral race.

“'Those remarks make no sense; they dishonor the person who says them in that offhand way (”

France 24

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.

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.

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.

France Bleu

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.

Grégoire framed the broader significance of the alleged Macron intervention as part of what he described as France's 'moral and political collapse.'

“'The grave accusations raised by Mr”

La Dépêche

The Socialist candidate suggested it was 'incongruent' that the president would devote attention to municipal politics while France faces significant international and economic challenges.

La Dépêche

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.

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.