Edouard Philippe, a candidate for the Horizons party in the upcoming French presidential election, has addressed recent controversy over comments he made about taking "vacations" after being elected president. In a podcast released on September 7, Philippe clarified that the debate was based on "truncated phrases," meaning parts of his statements were taken out of context. He explained that the current schedule for post-presidential activities is not ideal, and he suggested that a president-elect could use the time between May and September to rest, consult with various groups, build their team, and prepare for their term, which starts in early September. However, he acknowledged that the existing system does not allow for this kind of schedule and that changing it would be complex. Gabriel Attal, the candidate for the Renaissance party, responded to Philippe's remarks by saying, "France does not have a minute to lose." He criticized the lack of progress since the 2024 elections and pointed out that other global powers, such as China and the United States, are actively reforming and investing in their economies. Attal emphasized the need to act quickly and without delay, arguing that the country cannot afford to slow down. Critics of Philippe's comments were quick to respond. Hadrien Clouet, a deputy from the Insoumise party, accused Philippe of "laziness in power" and suggested he should "take unpaid leave and leave us alone." Sébastien Chenu, a deputy from the National Rally (RN), mocked the idea, pointing out the irony of people who want to make French workers stay in their jobs longer being the same ones who claim they need time to decompress. Philippe later revisited his comments, reiterating that the controversy was based on "truncated phrases" and criticizing the practice of cutting out parts of his statements to create misleading interpretations. He defended his position, emphasizing that his intention was to highlight the need for a more realistic and less stressful transition period for a future president.