Politics. Gaza, Ukraine, budget... Emmanuel Macron's thwarted summer

There was one image missing from the summer political gallery, and it arrived where we least expected it: the American celebrity site TMZ published the traditional Var photos of the French President on vacation at Fort Brégançon on Thursday, in swimming trunks, his muscles bulging and tanned, but also with sunglasses on a jet ski. Aside from these telephoto shots, Emmanuel Macron appears mostly in a suit at Brégançon, as well as in the company of European Council President Antonio Costa, after a video conference on Ukraine.

It's an illustration of a presidential summer dominated by the most acute diplomatic news. In Gaza, Israel's offensive and Benjamin Netanyahu's desire to occupy the Palestinian territory . In Ukraine, a surprise summit between the United States and Russia to discuss the aftermath of the war. In both cases, Europe was sidelined and a French president agitating to ensure that things would be different.

His traditional outing to Bormes this Sunday will be all the more closely observed. For it has been weeks since the president has spoken in detail on domestic policy – since May 13th on TF1 to be precise: a long, very long interview (two and a half hours) that produced no announcements . Nothing, for example, on referendums, which the Élysée had nevertheless maintained expectations of.

In the Var region last year, amidst the ruins of the dissolution, Emmanuel Macron called for people not to "give in to division." A year later, the division is more threatening than ever, with a major issue: the budgetary measures presented on July 15 by his Prime Minister . He remained discreet on the subject, contenting himself with praising the "virtue of courage, audacity, and lucidity" of these proposals at the Council of Ministers.

The final cabinet meeting of the season, on July 30, also highlighted the fragility of his position. In Europe, with his criticism of the agreement reached by his ally Ursula von der Leyen on US customs duties ("We were not feared enough"). And in France, with a statement on the forgotten universalism of the Jewish community (which the Élysée denies), which earned him a strong reaction from the president of the CRIF.

The presidential return to school is hardly looking bright. His Prime Minister's budget proposal appears doomed to censure, while the Socialist Party, through MP Philippe Brun, is calling for the announced €43 billion effort to be "halved." And protests are already taking hold. On one side, the slogan "Block everything" on September 10th, all the more feared because its instigators remain unclear. On the other, the more traditional mobilization of trade union organizations against the "museum of horrors," to quote Marylise Léon (CFDT).

Finally, let's not forget the scathing death certificate of the presidential political adventure issued on the eve of the holidays by his Minister of the Interior , Bruno Retailleau : "Macronism will end with Emmanuel Macron." Last year, it was Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin who made it known that he was worried about "what will happen in 2027." Many of them are dreaming of summer vacations at Fort Brégançon for themselves.