A summer far from rest for Emmanuel Macron. “I can not manage the summer on a gentle slope,” warned the Head of State during a trip to Martel (Lot) at the beginning of June. Between the epidemic threat linked to the Delta variant (ex-Indian), the economic recovery and the desire to move forward on the reform front, the next few weeks promise to be busy for the executive.
After the debacle of the regional, marked by a historic abstention, the President of the Republic, in a hurry to turn the page, had chosen not to react. But Emmanuel Macron could speak soon to chart the course to come.
“We will continue to reform”
“What I can tell you is that the President of the Republic will speak soon, it is expected that he will speak at a turning point for our country, probably[avant le 14 juillet] “, Warned Gabriel Attal on Sunday on Radio J. “If France takes a break for ten months, we will fall behind. We will continue to reform and even accelerate, ”assured the government spokesperson.
Several questions were addressed during a “listening meeting” organized this Tuesday at the Elysee Palace between the Head of State, Jean Castex, several ministers and the social partners. On the menu for discussions: “The economic and health situation after more than a year of crisis” and “the solutions to be provided to major challenges such as sustainable growth and ecological transition, the fight against economic inequalities or the challenge. demographic, ”said the presidency.
The compulsory vaccination of caregivers, on which Jean Castex will also consult local elected officials on Thursday, is one of the hot topics of the summer. “The Medef and the CFDT support this proposal [
contrairement à la CGT],
even evoking an extension of this obligation to all professionals in contact with the public. A solution must be found, because we have noticed a drop in vaccination, despite the emergence of the Delta variant, ”remarks Sylvain Maillard, LREM deputy from Paris. “If half the population is vaccinated but finds themselves confined because of the other half, it will not be acceptable. “
What about pensions and a reshuffle?
Another explosive subject mentioned by Emmanuel Macron: the thorny pension reform. On the steps of the Elysee Palace, the unions announced that the president had not revealed his intentions as to a possible return of the text, suspended since March 2020 by the coronavirus pandemic. But for them, putting it back on the agenda would be
“A form of madness”.
A return which is not unanimous within the majority either. “Everyone agrees that reform is necessary. But we must discuss the outlines: do we need a parametric reform or a structural reform? Are we waiting for the presidential election or not? Sylvain Maillard asks. Among the options considered by the government would include raising the legal retirement age from 62 to 64.
Since the defeat at the regional level, the possibility of a workforce review within the government during the summer is also posed. The head of state, who is due to meet Macronist parliamentarians next Monday, has already indicated that he would not change Prime Minister before the end of the five-year term. A source close to the executive thus clarified the day after the election that “there will be no reshuffle, except on a case-by-case basis if necessary, but technical adjustments, for example on the perimeter of certain ministers”.