Emmanuel Macron in demonstration, episode 2. This Wednesday evening, the President of the Republic was the guest of the program “L’Evenement” on France 2, two weeks after a first intervention devoted to international issues.
Expected on domestic issues, known as “French emergencies”, President Emmanuel Macron once again engaged in a pedagogical exercise, with supporting graphics, in the face of the many questions from the French, the defense of their power to buying pension reform on which the executive has chosen to temporize, without giving up. Here’s what to take away from his speech.
Inflation: “Protect” the weakest but no wage indexation
Emmanuel Macron insisted on the protective measures put in place from the end of 2021 to control the rise in energy prices which enabled France to better cushion the shock of inflation than its neighbors, with 6% against 10 % otherwise. “It’s hard but we have to hold on”, he hammered, while gas and electricity prices are to increase by 15% at the start of 2023. “It’s a lot but (without a shield) that should be more than 100%,” he insisted.
From January, aid will be “targeted” to those who need it most, he said. The executive will also “guarantee a reasonable price” of electricity to local authorities and small and medium-sized enterprises, by terms which will be unveiled on Friday. In addition, “for medium-sized companies and large groups, we are going to set up a help desk with, from the next few weeks, down payments”, he added.
The Head of State, on the other hand, ruled out the indexation of wages to prices demanded by certain unions, renewing his calls for a “fairer distribution” of profits in companies, through social dialogue.
Pensions: Macron “open” to postponing the retirement age to 64 in the event of an extension of the contribution period
While the executive continues its negotiations on pension reforms, Emmanuel Macron declared himself “open” to a postponement of the legal retirement age to 64, and not 65 as he had promised during the presidential campaign, in the event of an extension of the contribution period. “If some (social partners) are ready to commit and say: ‘We don’t want to go until 65, but in return, if you make this gesture, we are ready to work a little more of quarters ”, (..) I am open, “he said.
49.3: Macron denounces “the alliance of extremes” and flirts with LR
With the motion of censure of the Nupes also voted on Monday by the RN, but not adopted by the Assembly, “they do not have a majority, but above all they have proven that they are ready, socialists, communists, ecologists, LFI , to go hand in hand with the National Rally”, accused the head of state, denouncing “cynicism and disorder” and “the alliance of extremes”.
He then said he wanted “an alliance” with the LR deputies and those of the centrist Liot group for the adoption of texts in the Assembly, believing that they had “sent a clear message” by not voting the motions of censure. tabled in the budgets.
Do we need a coalition, as Nicolas Sarkozy recently advocated? “It was sought by the Prime Minister at the start of the five-year term, there was no wish from either side”. He did not confirm his intention to dissolve the Assembly, as he had mentioned during a dinner at the Élysée with regard to pension reform, in the event of his majority being outvoted. “But why would you want me tonight to tie my hands and say I would do this or that? “, he replied, mentioning other “means which are in the hands of the president”, such as “49.3 today” or the use of a referendum.
Criminal procedure: A major reform to come
“To simplify the procedures for them, we are going to launch in the next few days a major project of reform and overhaul of our code of criminal procedure”, declared the Head of State. This reform will “closely associate our senators and our deputies” and the “two law commissions” of the two chambers, he added. “We must change the rules so that they are simpler and correspond to the changes in our society,” he concluded.
Insecurity: Macron refutes any “existential” link between immigration and insecurity
“I will never make an existential link between immigration and insecurity,” insisted the tenant of the Elysée. However, he reaffirmed his desire to “toughen the rules” with a new law to better “fight against illegal immigration”. “Today, when we look at delinquency for example in Paris, where we have a high concentration (…) of this illegal immigration, yes, it is very present in the facts of delinquency”, then nuanced the President of the Republic. .
To achieve this, he wants to “reform in depth the rules, our laws, to simplify the procedures” of expulsion, on the occasion of a new law on asylum and immigration which must be presented “in the first half next year”, after a parliamentary debate on the subject “in the coming weeks.
“We are going to toughen the rules” to “go to these 100%” of application of the obligations to leave French territory (OQTF), deportation procedures of which less than 10% only are executed and which have resurfaced in the debate public after the savage murder of a 12-year-old girl, Lola, killed on October 14 by an Algerian national under the influence of an OQTF.
Medical deserts: Exemptions from old-age contributions in employment-retirement
Macron defended two measures against medical deserts, already debated in the Assembly within the framework of the Social Security budget: on the one hand the exemption from old-age contributions for doctors in combined employment and retirement, on the other the delegation of medical tasks to nurses, physiotherapists and other private caregivers. But he ruled out any constraints on the installation.
At the hospital, after the exhaustion of the Covid, the Head of State wants to “convince those who have just left to come back”. “I also want us to reform the organization of our hospitals, that caregivers regain power at the service level”, he added, also referring to work “better paid at night and on weekends. “.
Environment: Do not leave the French “without a solution” in the face of the ZFE
“I am not in favor of going backwards on our climate commitments” but “if we find CO2 capture mechanisms” to use shale gas without excessively polluting, Emmanuel Macron says he is open, advocating “technological solutionism “.
On the low emission zones, which will soon exclude relatively recent vehicles, but still too polluting, the French president remains vague but assures him: “We must never leave French women and men without a solution” to move.