Being in the government often leads to reduced popularity.
Consider the options:
No early election. RN popularity continues to rise, and they take the presidency and parliament in 2027. Result: Complete power for 5 years.
Early election. RN wins, and forms a new government. While being the ruling party, they lose in popularity and lose the elections in 2027. Result: limited power for 3 years.
To me it seems quite clear that option 2 is preferable to 1 for Macron.
What other outcome did Macron expect?
No one can tell for certain, but it does seem like he’s been huffing his own farts so hard he figured he could win this.
Corporatist do be like that
I’m sure he expected this, the real question should be why he thought this was good.
Being in the government often leads to reduced popularity.
Consider the options:
To me it seems quite clear that option 2 is preferable to 1 for Macron.
Ahhh ye olde “We’ll sabotage the ultra-right by putting them in power!”
This political gambit is an excellent choice for fucks and giggles.
Centrists putting fascists in power and then selling out the left to (temporarily) save their own asses is a tradition as old as fascism.