On 22 February, when the 16-year-old Swedish student turned climate activist Greta Thunberg went to Paris to march for the environment, French president Emmanuel Macron held a meeting with her at the Élysée Palace. But the invitation had not originated from him – Thunberg had asked to meet Macron.
Considering his immense talent for symbolic gestures and self-promotion, it was unusual for the French president not to seize a golden PR opportunity by inviting Thunberg himself. Isn’t she, after all, the voice of the young generation, who could embody his glorious campaign pledge to “make our planet great again”? For Macron to merely acquiesce to her request, instead of initiating the meeting, was rather off-brand.
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