In an interview with Le Parisien, Édouard Philippe reacted to current issues and discusses elements of his program for the 2027 presidential election.
It focuses “on what must be designed so that France becomes powerful, prosperous and free again”. Édouard Philippe matures his program, two years before the next presidential election. In an interview with Parisianthe former Prime Minister reacted to current issues and gave some details on what he wants for the post-Macron era. And it was a man “returned from among the bald” who confided.
Suffering from alopecia, a disease that causes hair loss, Édouard Philippe had had a hairless physique for several years. “Losing all your hair is anything but neutral. It changes your appearance, your face, the way you look at yourself and that others have at you. It’s not nothing.” And since June, “it started to grow back, without treatment or surgery”: “I feel like I’m reliving my puberty,” he jokes.
On the political level, Édouard Philippe welcomes the “conclave” imagined by François Bayrou to address the thorny issue of pension reform. “A serious discussion between the social partners to try to improve the system, without damaging our public finances, seems intelligent to me.” However, he remains a defender of the reform, which has been called into question in recent weeks. “She accepts the idea that to guarantee our pay-as-you-go pension system, we will have to work longer. It is not popular, I know that well.”
Édouard Philippe supports “not always popular” decisions
The former head of government has already planned to make “specific proposals on pensions” in his presidential electoral program. “I will not focus on age or the number of years of service but I will propose a system to guarantee solidarity between the French and between generations, sustainable financial balance, more freedom and choice for everyone. ” However, he did not wish to give more details, since he is “working on it”. “I am not one of those who let go of ideas or projects that are not sufficiently matured,” he said.
Édouard Philippe defends a reduction in debt and deficits. Even if this involves “not always popular” decisions, such as “the reduction in APL and subsidized employment”. “When we want, we can”, maintains the future presidential candidate. Conversely, he says he is “reluctant to tax increases”.
On the international side, the former tenant of Matignon deplores a weakening of France, like all the countries of Europe. “What is happening is a real transformation of the world. We are living in a dangerous period. And what saddens me, as much as it worries me, is that in France, political instability deprives us of our capacity for action,” he believes. Especially since France and its European allies have relied on multilateralism to assert themselves on an international scale, but “that no longer exists”. “Multilateralism is moribund and Donald Trump will finish it,” assures Édouard Philippe. According to him, to preserve the interests of France and its allies, “one of the elements of the response is Europe”.