Macron's secret correspondence became a book: 'You are all very cruel to me'

The private correspondence between French President Emmanuel Macron and journalist Françoise Degois via Telegram since 2024 has been published in a book.

According to reports in the French press, Degois included messages from his meetings with Macron in his new book titled "You Are All So Cruel To Me".

It was claimed that Macron, who learned that the correspondence would be made public shortly before the book was published, was not aware that the messages in question would be used in the book.

It also drew attention that Degois sent a copy of the book to the Élysée Palace to sign.

It was stated that the correspondence between Macron and Degois started in the summer of 2024.

It was reported that Macron sent the first message to thank the journalist who defended him against the unfounded allegations about his wife Brigitte Macron's gender on social media.

In Macron's message, it was stated that he used the expressions "I thank you, and my wife also thanks you. Beyond political differences of opinion, your words are important" and signed his message with the initials "EM".

After this message, communication between the journalist and the French President continued.

"YOU ARE ALL VERY CRUEL TO ME"

According to the correspondence included in the book, Macron also expressed his discomfort with the press's news about him and his policies.

Arguing that some journalists made evaluations about his policies without ever meeting with him, Macron claimed that a biased approach was adopted in the news.

In one of the messages he sent to Degois, the French President was quoted as saying, "Most of the time, you and your colleagues are very cruel to me."

These words also inspired the title of Degois's new book.

It was stated that Macron, who is nearing the end of his second presidential term and cannot be a candidate for a third consecutive term due to the constitutional limit, also evaluated his eight-year rule in his correspondence.

"We have changed in eight years. We have achieved a lot in the fight against introversion and in purchasing power," Macron was quoted as saying in a message sent in June 2026.

It was noted that the French President also answered questions about what path he would follow after the end of his term of office.

"I WILL NOT WORK FOR ANYONE"

Allegations about Macron's post-presidency career also came to the fore in the correspondence.

Le Journal du Dimanche, a newspaper owned by billionaire Vincent Bolloré, claimed that Macron could work with businessman Xavier Niel after leaving office.

It was stated that when Degois asked about this claim, Macron replied, "This is complete nonsense."

Macron, who also opposed questions about the possibility of working with other billionaires, was reported to have used the following statements:

"I will not work for anyone. I would rather have a small place of my own than live in someone else's big house. If I enter the business world, I will implement my own project. I am thinking of doing something outside of France. However, I will not be anyone's employee and I will not be indebted to anyone. Never."

THE BOOK CREATED A DEBATE IN FRANCE

The publication of the President's private correspondence in a book brought about discussions about political communication and privacy in France.

Some commentators have argued that the release of private messages poses a problem for the confidentiality of presidential communications.

It was evaluated that the book not only revealed private correspondence but also presented a political portrait of the last period of Macron's rule.

Journalist Françoise Degois defended her book in a statement on the social media platform X.

Degois stated that his work is a political document aimed at understanding Macron's political personality and the situation he is in.

The French journalist described Macron as "a lonely man who knows France better than is thought, but who, as he approaches the end of his term, faces a deadlock partly of his own making."

Degois argued that the book reflects not only Macron but also the political atmosphere of a period through direct and candid interviews.

Evaluating Macron's political career, the journalist described the French President as "a man with an extraordinary destiny, alone but connected to everyone."