MACRON SPEECH. The Head of State held a pedagogical speech on the social and economic policy of his government. He was also very critical of Nupes.
What to remember from the interview with Emmanuel Macron on France 2, guest of the program “L’Evénement” Wednesday, October 26? The Head of State did not make any major announcements, but above all wanted to explain the main lines of his policy, considering that the government is doing everything it can to both support the French economy and protect the French, in a context of high inflation (5.6% over one year in September). Find on this paper the video interview, in full below, and the main points developed by Emmanuel Macron.
On the use of 49.3 by the Borne government
The President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron was the guest of the program “L’Événement” on France 2, Wednesday, October 26, for the second time. Faced with journalist Caroline Roux, Emmanuel Macron discussed various subjects, but also returned to the latest events that have marked French political life in recent days, with in particular the use of 49.3 and the motions of censure of the opposition which followed. “The government was right to pass this budget, including in the face of all the opposition which was sometimes in demagogy”, he justified, estimating that he had thus “avoided several billions of expenditure at a loss of little use”.
La Nupes “ready to go hand in hand with the RN”
Unsurprisingly, Emmanuel Macron was not kind to the opposition. The Head of State strongly criticized the “cynicism, but also the” baroque coalition “of the deputies of the Nupes with those of the National Rally, while the RN voted earlier in the week the motion of censure tabled by the Nupes “They have proven one thing, which is that they do not have a majority, and above all that they are ready to go hand in hand with the RN, while there is war in Europe, that there is a crisis, that there is the disarray of so many families”, he tackled, before extending his hand to the Republican and centrist deputies. “They sent a clear message : we do not want to block the government”, he underlined, displaying without flinching his deep desire for “alliance” with these deputies.
On the pension reform: the postponement of the retirement age recorded
Emmanuel Macron assured him on Wednesday evening, according to him, “if we do not reform pensions, it will be less purchasing power”. And to insist: “If we want to succeed, we have no choice but to work more.” Inflation, the war in Ukraine, nothing should therefore be right for the pension reform. The course is maintained: “From the summer of 2023, we will have to shift the legal age of departure by four months per year. We will go by 2031 to 65 years old.” Clearly stating his objective, Emmanuel Macron however said he was open to discussion. “We have started consultation with the social partners. If some say: ‘We are ready to go up to 64 years’ and in return, we work more quarters, I am open”, he declared facing Caroline Roux.
Extension of the tariff shield on gas and electricity in 2023
Before that, Emmanuel Macron returned at length to the issues that drive the news, inflation in mind. As a reminder, prices increased by 5.6% over one year, according to INSEE. While energy prices are particularly affected, Emmanuel Macron confirmed the extension of the tariff shield on gas and electricity in 2023. “There will be a 15% increase in the first months of the year”, he warned, however, adding that “it’s a lot, but if we let things happen, it should be increases of more than 100%”. And to reassure: “We have already amortized, we will continue to amortize.”
As for small and medium-sized businesses and communities, they will not be left on the side of the road, assured Emmanuel Macron, who wants to “guarantee a reasonable price” for electricity. A plan must be presented Friday, October 28 by Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne. Other companies, of intermediate size or large groups, will be offered a “help desk”.
No indexation of wages to inflation in sight
While on the left, many voices are being raised to put in place an indexation of wages to inflation, Emmanuel Macron cut short this proposal: “These French men and women who work, it is our model. I believe to the France of work and merit. The solution is not to reindex wages to inflation.” And the President of the Republic to justify: “Otherwise, we maintain a rise in prices and this price-wage loop, we can’t stop it. The first point is to help the French find work. Second thing: that we earn more with this work.”
Continuing on the issue of wages, Emmanuel Macron stressed that “wage increases are not the state that decides”. The Elysée tenant said he “believes in social dialogue at company level”, but felt that “when there is an increase in dividends for shareholders, there must be a similar mechanism for employees” .
No “existential” link between immigration and security
While the murder of young Lola has shaken France in recent days, and the main suspect is a woman who was under an obligation to leave French territory (OQTF) at the time of the tragedy, which generated a political recovery of the case by the extreme right in particular, Emmanuel Macron does not wish to make “generalization”. There is no “existential link between immigration and insecurity”, he said in front of Caroline Roux, Wednesday evening. And for good reason, France has “always had immigrants”, he put forward, affirming that it had always “integrated” them.
Emphasizing however that in Paris, “at least half of the acts of delinquency that we observe come from people who are foreigners either in an irregular situation or awaiting permits”, the Head of State agreed that he was necessary to integrate “much faster” people who want it and promised to “toughen things up with the countries of origin to move towards a rate [de raccompagnement à la frontière] 100% for those who are the most dangerous”.
On superprofits: Macron wants a “big conference on value sharing”
The President of the Republic also addressed the subject of “superprofits” which has been debated for several months in French society: “We sometimes confuse everything in public debate. What are superprofits? is the profits we make because of soaring energy prices. These profits, we take them back and redistribute them in aid.” Emmanuel Macron also announced on Wednesday evening a “major conference on the sharing of value”, which will be carried out within the framework of the National Council for Refoundation.