PARIS — Weakened domestically and bracing for a political storm, French President Emmanuel Macron seized the opportunity to claim a rare victory.
On Friday, Macron led a final visit to Notre-Dame Cathedral, allowing cameras into the iconic Parisian monument for the first time since it was engulfed in flames in April 2019. Over the past years, Macron involved himself in the renovation of the cathedral, something he sought to put forward in the days leading up to the visit to the finalized work site.
Accompanied by a small group that included his wife Brigitte Macron, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, Culture Minister Rachida Dati and the Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich, Macron walked through the nave, the cathedral’s main hall.
“It’s been repaired, reinvented, and rebuilt all at once,” the president remarked as he admired the modernized interior. “It’s beautiful.”
In conversations captured by cameras, the first visitors to the restored Notre-Dame commented on the brighter appearance of the venue compared to its pre-fire look. Despite modernization, the fundamental architecture remains similar to its previous appearance.
Notre-Dame’s official reopening is set for next weekend, featuring a religious ceremony and the attendance of thousands of dignitaries and artists. By allowing media to follow him during this final visit to the cathedral’s work site, Macron ensured that the first images of the refurbished landmark were closely tied to him—irritating some religious officials in the process, according to media reports.
However, Macron’s central role in the reopening was not something the Elysée Palace was willing to put aside. After the fire, Macron had pledged that the cathedral would be rebuilt within five years.
For the French president, however, this moment of respite may be short-lived. Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government, which Macron appointed in a bid to ensure stability, faces mounting pressure and may collapse in the coming days after less than three months in power. Such a scenario could plunge France into a political crisis and amplify calls for Macron’s resignation, which have started to emerge across the political spectrum.
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