Macron thinks he is ‘all-powerful KING’ fumes rival — President’s leadership ‘IMPLODING’
Mr Macron’s “Jupiterian” vision of the presidency and his image as an aloof, cold-hearted leader have dragged down his poll numbers and turned voters against him.
Mr Corbière, a senior member of the leftist La France Insoumise (France Unbowed) party, told RMC radio and BFM TV: “The President of the Republic needs to understand that he is not an absolute monarch. A King’s simple contact with his people used to be enough to solve their problems – but this is no longer the case.
“Mr Macron is a president-cum-monarch who is condescending towards his own people. It’s a form of contempt, of arrogance.
“He’s very tactile – but what he really needs to do is listen.” Mr Corbière poked fun at Mr Macron’s ambitious reform plans, saying he should focus on changing his polices and not on changing the French.
He said: “The idea that the French need to change and that there is nothing wrong with his policies is amusing. Mr Macron often says this – that he’d like the French to change.”
Mr Macron’s blunt language – he once scolded striking workers for “kicking up a bloody mess” and called opponents of his labour reforms “slackers” – has cemented his reputation as an arrogant and patronising president. Last week, the 40-year-old urged the French to “moan less,” adding the country would be better off if they emulated wartime leader Charles de Gaulle.
The French President told pensioners: “The General’s grandson earlier told me, ‘We used to be able to speak to him freely. The one thing we weren’t allowed to do in his presence was complain’.
“I think the General had it right. You know, this country would be different if we were like that. We don’t realise how immensely lucky we are.”
Mr Corbière condemned Mr Macron’s comments, saying the French people’s “demanding” nature was “a good thing”. Far-left chief Jean-Luc Mélenchon also lashed out against Mr Macron’s policies, saying on Sunday the centrist government was on the brink of implosion.
Mr Mélenchon told the French daily Les Dernières nouvelles d’Alsace on Sunday: “Macronism is imploding.
“The regime is failing… The system is based on the president’s hallucinogenic abilities… People are no longer impressed by his , all he does is gesticulate and his words are offensive… French democracy is sick – Mr Macron is driving it crazy.” There is “nothing positive” about Mr Macron’s policies, Mr Mélenchon added: “Everything stems from a myth: he is convinced that by pouring money over the rich, some of it will spill over and benefit the poor – that’s not how life works.”
Mr Mélenchon reiterated his call to turn next May’s European Parliament election into an anti-Macron referendum.
He said: “The European election will be a referendum against Mr Macron’s policies.”