We are caught in a pinch between social turmoil and loss of relevance. French President Emmanuel Macron is trying to get out of this stalemate and give new impetus to his tough second term. After a very intense first semester marked by a wave of protests against pension reform and massive uprisings “in the suburbs”, the centrist leader promised a new reform in mid-July. “A far-reaching political initiative” Since September. A phrase that the Gallic public viewed with some skepticism.
The President took his first step this Wednesday; Will this be the first and last? – regain the initiative. He’s meeting her this afternoon and throughout the evening different leaders of opposition parties At the Legion of Honor school in Saint-Denis, in the “suburb” north of Paris. Without television cameras or cell phones, Macron is there arguing with the leaders of eleven formations, both from the opposition and the presidential coalition. Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne and the heads of the National Assembly, Senate and Economic, Social and Environmental Council are also attending the meeting.
International politics, “the effectiveness of public action” and “nation building” are on the menu of the meeting. Macron told those in charge of the different entities that the meeting will be for promotional purposes. “co-created legislative texts” and “if this is not possible”, referendums. This was promised in a letter he sent them last week. At the end of June last year, the Republican right had already admitted opposition at the Elysée to explore the possibility of a coalition government failing. However, it is the first time that they all come together in the same place during the Macronist presidency.
“The short-circuited classical parliamentary life”
Despite its unprecedented nature, pessimism prevailed among those in charge and political analysts about the repercussions of this meeting. “We are here to explain the damage your policy has done to the country. (…) We are coming without illusions but with determination”, declared Manuel Bompard, the president of France Insumisa (relative to Sumar de Yolanda Díaz) and his socialist, environmentalist and green partners who came to the Legion of Honor school. “We are not pure in the face of this communication operation”said Olivier Faure, general secretary of the Socialist Party.
“There is a clear risk that this initiative will be trivial,” political scientist Luc Rouban, author of the book, tells EL PERIÓDICO DE CATALUNYA of the Prensa Ibérica group. The Paradox of Macronism. According to this research director at CNRS and Sciences Po Paris, “Macron is always trying to regain the initiative by creating new space around him. (…) Often tries short circuit classical parliamentary lifebecause it doesn’t have a strong party like the Republicans (PP-affiliated LR) and the Socialist Party before”.
HE “great discussion” Following the yellow vest riot in 2019, the Citizens’ Covenant for Climate, the National Reestablishment Council (CNR)… The list of initiatives is long specific encouraged by the president. Although they may have looked interesting on paper in a Fifth Republic suffering from extreme verticality, they did not lead to major measures and did not disappoint the public. “The CNR is hardly mentioned anymore,” Rouban recalls. And it was introduced just a year ago.
Will Macron bet on the referendum?
a feeling deja vu In France, the new political route reigns before it begins. Problems of this tenant almost a carbon copy of last year’s: persistent inflation The main concern of the French is the lack of purchasing power, the urgency after a hot summer, and the feeling of insecurity further accentuated by the spectacular images of the riots in the “suburbs”. As last fall, macronism will have to devote the bulk of its efforts to debate and budget approval In a National Assembly where it does not have an absolute majority, this is unusual in a neighboring country. He will probably implement them by decree and without a parliamentary vote.
Presidential coalition can also apply controversial 49.3 to confirm new immigration law. Processing of the Cabinet resolution presented at the beginning of the year was delayed multiple times as the presidential coalition struggled to gain support from the Republican right. “I’m afraid we’re going to have to be finicky at a dinner that will actually be a date with Éric Ciotti,” Faure said, ironically citing the possibility that Macron might use the meeting in Saint-Denis to bring him close to the LR president. .
“The president is looking for a strong political target,” an executive advisor told the newspaper. figaro. Macron wants to take something out of the top hat. It will free him from the current negative inertia and give him back control of times as more and more leaders of his field (at a time when the loudest was the Minister of the Interior). Gerald Darmanin– Although the 2027 presidential election is still four years away, he is considering his successor.
The government recently stated: possible call for a referendum or consultation with citizens. It’s an idea that has been voiced by the centrist leader many times in the past, but never realized. “The president is willing to hold a referendum or even a preference,” Olivier Véran said on Tuesday. Speaking of “Choice”, he was referring to the possibility of consultation with more than two possible answers, unlike the classical plebiscite.
The left is asking him to consult the public on this issue. Raising the minimum retirement age to 64This will be implemented gradually from Friday. The extreme right wants a referendum on immigration. In macronism, they are not very positive about these options and prefer to vote on social issues such as institutional reform or euthanasia or the legalization of cannabis. “France is not like Italy and the constitutional framework for holding a referendum is limited,” explains Rouban. According to this political scientist, “There has been no such vote since 2005 (along with the European Constitution), given the risk of it becoming a referendum on the President.” And “No” is imposed.