Jacques Serais, edited by Sylvain Allemand / Photo credits: Ludovic MARIN / AFP
In a letter addressed to the country’s party leaders, the President of the Republic invites them to meet on November 17 for a new meeting in “Saint-Denis” format. In this missive, the Head of State proposes in particular to broaden the scope of the referendum to social issues, including end of life and immigration.
Emmanuel Macron turns into a strategist. The President of the Republic sent a letter to party leaders on Sunday evening. In this missive, the president formally invites the various opposition leaders to meet again. A first meeting of this type took place in Saint-Denis (93) last August. Key proposition of this interview: broadening the scope of the referendum to social issues such as end of life and immigration.
An invitation coming the day before two pivotal and delicate events for the executive: the trial of the Minister of Justice, Éric Dupond-Moretti, before the Court of Justice of the Republic for suspicion of illegal taking of interests as well as the examination of the immigration bill before the Senate. A way for the president to try to occupy space to divert attention.
A proposal but not a commitment
The letter therefore proposes a modification of the Constitution to broaden the scope of the referendum, particularly on the subject of immigration. A maneuver to try to convince the Republicans, the majority in the upper house, who oppose the immigration bill carried by Gérald Darmanin. The LRs remain resistant to the article in the text which proposes the regularization of immigrants working in sectors lacking labor.
A proposal which is not necessarily a commitment. On October 4, Emmanuel Macron estimated that wanting to hold a referendum on the subject which has just been debated by Parliament would make the Republic “stutter” to the extent that it would call into question the usefulness of the chambers.