Having barely turned the page on the Olympic Games, France is already anticipating a return to normal after seventeen exceptional days. How can we build on this tremendous success, how can we capitalize on this spirit of harmony, how can we maintain this positive energy in a fractured country? These questions are plaguing all political leaders, and Emmanuel Macron in particular. In search of a five-legged sheep for Matignon – to inspire respect or, at the very least, a minimum of consideration from the left, the center and the right combined – the head of state will certainly find in Tony Estanguet a source of inspiration in his research.
Because if, in terms of organization, the head of the Olympic Games was able to rely on this very French art of administration and planning, in everyone’s opinion, the keys to his success are also to be found in his leadership qualities. Audacity first. If Paris 2024 broke the codes and left its mark, it is because its project manager and his teams stuck to this desire to “do things that had never been done before”, as he declared on the evening of the opening ceremony. And this, against all odds (almost). How many times was he told that it was impossible, unfeasible, too complicated? In this, he deserves the gold medal for stubbornness and perseverance. A unifier, he also knew how to be able to bring together elected officials with diametrically opposed views, thanks in particular to a good dose of empathy.
Even if with Emmanuel Macron, one must always be wary, this does not make Tony Estanguet an ideal candidate for the post of Prime Minister. Probably not political enough and surely too far from partisan struggles. One thing is certain however: the lucky winner will have to bring together some of these skills. Otherwise, the hell of Matignon will probably never have lived up to its nickname so well.
