Through Guillaume Laurens
Published on
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“The meeting is open”. This is the name of the first book published on Wednesday April 21, 2021 by the LREM deputy for Haute-Garonne Mickaël Kinda. A book like no other, since it is not distributed in bookstores, but in literary streaming, all as a series.
Published by the French platform roulade – sort of Book netflix -, this literary series consists of 10 episodes. For the occasion, the elected representative of Toulouse has arrogated to himself a feather of choice in the preface: that of the President of the Republic himself.
“Combatants, almost soldier monks”
The deputy claims a work “intimate and educational” intended “for all audiences”, familiar with political life, or not. In The meeting is open, Mickaël Nogal, now aged 30 years, looks back on his beginnings in the Assembly in 2017. He shares his experience as a young Member, among these “Combatants, almost soldier monks”, defectors from the PS at “Les Jeunes avec Macron”.
In addition to his immersion in the deep end of the Palais Bourbon, he evokes his childhood in Toulouse, his activist commitments, behind the scenes of the Assembly and of the majority, his links with Emmanuel Macron … Considering that “France is waiting for us at the turn and that it will not miss us if we mess up”, he also relates, from the yellow vests to the Covid-19, how he experienced from the inside the crises that shook the country. Interview.
News: Why write about your experience as an MP in a book?
Mickaël Nogal: “I have always wanted to write and the opportunity arose when I met the Rocambole team last year.
The idea of this book is both to tell my story, but also to educate on the role of the deputy and the National Assembly, because they are in fact quite unknown to the French. I invite readers to come and discover how the law is built. It is a transpartisan story, which has a more educational than political vocation. And if I can modestly arouse interest in politics and call for engagement … “
“It’s made to capture the reader”
It is not a classic book, but a literary streaming series… Why did you choose this form?
M.N. : “I first wanted to support a start-up created by young people. Rocambole is a beautiful French nugget that deserves to be known and developed. They were the ones who contacted me and proposed the project. new literary streaming platform inspired by Netflix codes is a way to bring young people back to reading, to make things more fun, especially as the ergonomics of the application offer real reading comfort. C is a bit like a catalog of movies on Netflix …
And on the same principle as Netflix, it is co-written with one of the platform’s authors, in this case Jean-Baptiste Bonaventure. It allowed me to take a step back and not just be in the commentary. That’s why on arrival, the tone is quite direct, in the first person, without frills. The way it’s written, the format with ten episodes, it’s made to capture the reader! “
You could also have published a paper book, as many politicians do …
M.N. : “But most political books published in paper sell in 50 copies! I am even sure that I will be read more in this new digital format than I would have been in paper format … And then, those who read here are not not necessarily consumers of paper books, it is complementary.
The economic model is also different. On Rocambole, you cannot buy the book directly, but subscribe, like on Netflix, to enjoy different series “.
“The first deputy to whom [Emmanuel Macron] dedicate a book ”
What is this association to which will be donated the copyright?
M.N. : “I have an author’s contract, and like all authors, I have to earn income from the production of my book. But with Jean-Baptiste Bonaventure, we decided to transfer the copyright in full to ‘Un abri who saves lives’, an association created during the first confinement, which works to protect women victims of domestic and intra-family violence. This echoes several causes that are dear to me: my commitment to housing and accommodation, and the fight against violence against women “.
The book is prefaced by the President of the Republic, it is rare enough to be underlined … How did you go about it?
M.N. : “I am indeed the first deputy to whom he dedicates a book. We speak to each other regularly, I explained my project to him, and asked him if he would do me the honor of prefacing it. He read the book … and he kept his promise! “
“There may be a season 2 …”
Without spoiling the content of your series, it ends with your future at the Palais Bourbon… Have you decided on your choice to represent yourself or not?
M.N. : “I will decide at the beginning of 2022, not before. I also explain in the book the reasons why at the same time, I am tempted to continue, but that I also wonder at the idea of doing this second term. for personal and family reasons “.
The book begins with ‘The sitting is open’, will it close next year?
M.N. : “You insist! I don’t know, we’ll see! The book also ends with ‘The meeting is adjourned’, so there might be a season 2…”
“I was elected because I was Emmanuel Macron’s candidate”
In 2017, you were elected with 51.91% of the votes against a rebellious candidate. The result was relatively close. Since then, LREM has been confronted with the exercise of power and suffered electoral defeats… Are you afraid of not being reelected?
M.N. : “It should be remembered that the constitution of La République en Marche was made unlike all the traditional parties: Emmanuel Macron founded a political movement, he won, then took a majority. The interim elections could not be simple for such a recent movement. From 2017, it was necessary to create this territorial anchoring which did not exist. In fact, the local elections were by definition more difficult for us than for a party having a historical anchoring. Afterwards, there were still European elections which worked well for us! As for the legislative elections, the results are more linked to those of the presidential election. I was elected because I was the candidate of Emmanuel Macron, I am perfectly aware of it “.
You didn’t really answer… Are you worried that you won’t be re-elected?
M.N. : “(Laughs). I believe in the chances of Emmanuel Macron, and in his ability to once again have a majority in the National Assembly. I also consider that it is necessary for the country.
If we compare him to François Hollande or Nicolas Sarkozy who were completely collapsing at that time of their mandate, Emmanuel Macron still has a high confidence rating. In the polls, none of its rivals is also judged to be able to do better …
And then, in 2017, in the first round of the presidential election, Jean-Luc Mélenchon beat Emmanuel Macron by two points in Toulouse. In fact, in a 100% Toulouse constituency like the 4th, this was reflected in the results of the legislative elections… In the first round, we were 17 candidates and I was 15 points ahead. In the second, the voices of the left were transferred to the rebellious candidate. It was not a surprise “.
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