When French political advisers measure public fatigue, they often look back to a maxim attributed to Jacques Pilhan: speaking when unpopular is like walking in quicksand. In the autumn of 1984, Pilhan warned François Mitterrand that the more one agitates, the more one sinks.
The Quicksand of Overexposure
From Brief Addresses to Endless Airtime
In contemporary political analysis, observers examine whether modern leadership suffers from verbal saturation. Analysts frequently compare the length of modern presidential addresses with those of earlier eras. Georges Pompidou, in December 1970, took barely four minutes of time. By contrast, Emmanuel Macron has needed fifteen or twenty minutes to present his wishes to the French.
This expansion of official rhetoric forms the core of recent commentary by observers tracking executive communications. Astrid Roucher, in her book La Plume et le Prince, notes a tendency to “overdose words to be sure that something remains, facing a generation that fills the fear of the void with mass.” Beyond routine national addresses, such as July 14, public calendars overflow with official ceremonies, panthéonizations, and extended television interviews.
The Disconnect in Voter Awareness
Yet polling data suggests that mounting speech volume does not automatically translate into public engagement. According to a recent Ipsos survey, 60% of French people “do not know at all” the date of the first round of the presidential election, while barely 17% know that it will take place on April 18. Political strategists in the entourage of Édouard Philippe note that the French do not retain ideas but impressions, often letting images scroll on their television without the sound.
De Gaulle and the Fear of Noise
This dynamic fuels a broader debate over saturation versus substance. General de Gaulle warned that what is to be feared is not the political void, but rather the “too-full.” Despite these historical warnings, broadcast networks continue experimenting with new political debate formats and reviving “L’Heure de vérité,” running the risk of creating a saturation effect.
Diminishing Returns on the Media Blitz
Polling trends show that those who express themselves the least fare best in opinion polls. Strategic advisers point out that high-frequency speaking schedules do not automatically close gaps in voter preference rankings; for instance, Gabriel Attal has not closed the gap with Édouard Philippe despite a very active summer. As political communications evolve amid expanding media channels, the traditional reliance on performative speeches faces a diminishing return.
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