Macron’s Private Messages to Journalist Françoise Degois Revealed in New Book, Digi Mart USA News: French President Emmanuel Macron learned three days before publication that his private messaging exchanges with journalist Françoise Degois would be disclosed in a book, according to the Orange Actualités report. The exchanges, which stretch over two years, contrast with the relationship Macron had said he would maintain with the press.
The book, “Vous êtes tous trop durs avec moi” (Éditions Robert Laffont), takes its title from one of the exchanges. Degois, who was also an adviser to Ségolène Royal, acknowledges that she did not seek the president’s permission before making the correspondence public.
“C’est un livre qu’on a découvert lundi,” a member of Macron’s circle confirmed. The messages cover the failed dissolution of June 2024 and the rise of the National Rally (RN), with Macron discussing his decisions and his determination to keep the far-right party from the Élysée.
In one exchange, Macron said the dissolution had “cost him dearly” but had blocked the RN, adding that the party was ready for autumn but not for June. He also wrote that “the machine wants blood” and that “we will get them all,” according to the book.
Macron also justified his refusal to name a left-wing prime minister after the dissolution, telling Degois that the RN had won. He criticized his former prime minister, Gabriel Attal, saying “we gave him too much, all the time.”
Attal responded on BFMTV that “none of this interests the French,” and said people may comment as they wish. Political reactions to the book have been limited, though Aurélien Taché said on X that he did not believe Macron was unaware of what he was doing.
Minister Sabrina Roubache called the practice “very strange” and said only naïve people believe off-the-record remarks are truly off the record.
The disclosures contradict Macron’s 2016 statements that he had no journalist friends and did not engage in such confidences, a stance he adopted in contrast to François Hollande’s book revelations.
