During a 13-minute speech delivered this Sunday from the gardens of the Élysée, in front of the flags of the Olympic nations in view of the Paris Olympics, Emmanuel Macron promised a “year of determination” in 2024. “I will have “opportunity in the coming weeks to tell you how our nation will meet these challenges”, specified the Head of State without, however, saying more about the contours of the mysterious “meeting with the Nation” announced for January, any more than he didn’t really set this “new course” mentioned before Christmas. This course, he said, has been the same for almost seven years that he has been leading France: to make it “stronger and fairer”, to “liberate, protect, unite”.
“Action is not an option. Action is our duty for future generations,” he said before adding: “I am of course aware of the impatience, even if the first changes are visible.” . The President of the Republic praised his policy of “economic rearmament” and endorsed his “unpopular” but “necessary for the country” pension reform, and briefly mentioned the recently adopted immigration law, also voted for by the right and the National Rally.
While rumors of a reshuffle, or even a change at Matignon, are circulating, the President of the Republic thanked “especially” the head of government and her ministers. Elisabeth Borne, who is spending New Year’s Eve in Guyana, ended the year with “the feeling of duty accomplished” after the adoption of the immigration law. But a source close to the Elysée assures that the “new course” mentioned by the presidency could mean his departure from Matignon.
The reshuffle could take place “in around 15 days”, a government source believes.
The next European elections, a “decisive” moment
Emmanuel Macron also addressed the international situation, the conflict in the Middle East, that between Russia and Ukraine, and the European elections. A “decisive choice” which, according to him, will be played out between “continuing Europe or blocking it”.
“We will have to make the choice for a stronger and more sovereign Europe in light of the legacy of Jacques Delors,” he said, and choose between “affirming the strength of our liberal democracies or giving in to lies who sows chaos.