It is a body which aims to develop “a new way of debating” but which will have to do so with a limited number of participants. Emmanuel Macron installs this Thursday the National Council for Refoundation (CNR), already boycotted by the opposition.
“Today we have to invent something new, a new way of debating. Not a new institution, ”said the head of state in a video broadcast on Wednesday before the congress of the Mutualité française. “Engaging in a constructive dialogue”, “solving the daily difficulties of the French”, “restoring confidence” in the public debate: The Elysée marks a “willingness to register this approach over time” and promises first results from 2023 about school or health. In addition to these two themes, full employment, aging well and ecological transition will be on the menu for discussion.
Bayrou at the head of the CNR
About fifty participants representing “the living forces of the Nation” are expected from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the National Rugby Center in Marcoussis, in Essonne. For François Bayrou, who must lead the CNR, it is a question of “taking the time necessary to lead from the observation to an idea of the future”. But he admits that the task promises to be “very difficult”.
If the leaders of eight elected associations will finally be present, the main leaders of the opposition political parties will be missing, as well as the leaders of the CGT and FO. Only three unions – CFDT, CFTC and Unsa – will make the trip. Absent also noticed, the former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, who will be in Quebec but will be represented.
A “new “thing””
Gérard Larcher, the LR president of the Senate, refused to come. He recalled on France Inter that “representative democracy” is Parliament, and that there is already a “civil society forum” with the Economic, Social and Environmental Council. Alexis Corbière (LFI) for his part denounces a “bazaar” to “dodge parliament”, Marine Le Pen (RN) a “gadget”, when Olivier Faure (PS) sees “no interest” in it. François Hollande, never stingy with spades towards his successor, also doubts the need for a “new ‘thing'”.
The executive, however, wants to believe that the absent will soon change their minds. “I’m betting with you that when it comes to the conclusions, everyone will be around the table,” government spokesman Olivier Véran said on Wednesday. In the meantime, Emmanuel Macron will introduce the meeting, before discussing the expectations of the participants, who will also listen to short presentations by the President of the High Council for the Climate, Corinne Le Quéré, the First President of the Court of Auditors, Pierre Moscovici, and the Governor of the Banque de France, François Villeroy de Galhau. In the afternoon, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne will lead a meeting to determine the projects and establish their implementation over time.