On the occasion of wishes for 2023, Emmanuel Macron advocated “the imperative of the unity of the nation”, without necessarily setting a clear course for his second term.
By Sebastien Schneegans
© Alexandre MARCHI / MAXPPP / PHOTOPQR/L’EST REPUBLICAIN/MAXPP
Published on
VSThis was the subject on which Emmanuel Macron was expected, the burning file for this start of the 2023 school year, one of the rare political themes of a strictly codified speech: pension reform. Speaking in front of a modest library in the golden lounge – this room in the Élysée serves as his office – the Head of State, who had not mentioned the pension reform since December 31, 2019, decided this Saturday to put “the mother of all battles” back at the top of the pile of priorities for 2023… Without taking any great risks, however.
The President of the Republic, retired for a few days to Fort Brégançon, rigorously refrained from revealing the main lines of his reform; the Prime Minister, Élisabeth Borne, will take care of it on Tuesday, January 10. No clue on the postponement of the legal age of departure: 64 or 65, nor on the extension of the contribution period, point on which Les Républicains (LR), with which the majority hopes to pass the end text January, are everywhere particularly attentive. The president simply recalled what the candidate Macron put forward during his – brief – campaign for his re-election in the spring: “The lengthening of our working careers will be gradual, it will be done in stages over almost ten years. It will also be fair taking into account long careers, choppy careers and the difficulty of certain tasks in certain trades. »
READ ALSOIn the factory of presidential wishes
Emmanuel Macron’s sixth wishes were égrainé à “la cavalcade” – according to the consecrated expression of the tenant of the Élysée – and placed under the sign of caution. No announcement in this particularly long speech (18 minutes 30, far from the 3 minutes 43 of Georges Pompidou), no salient sentence or notable inflection. Before a return to school which promises to be hectic, full of uncertainties, the Head of State wanted to reassure, repeatedly calling on the French to “unity” so as not to give in to “the spirit of division”.
“You had to be honest without being too daring, be frank without tearing the French too abruptly away from the sweetness of the end-of-year celebrations on tense subjects”, summed up, before the speech, one of his advisers. Which underlines that one of the challenges of this speech was not to give in to the “sinisters” of this end of the year: absence of prospects for the outcome of the Russian-Ukrainian war, rise in inflation and, consequently , drop in purchasing power, sharp rise in Covid cases in China, where restrictions have been largely relaxed after a series of demonstrations… Despite this accumulation of crises, “we will be able to cope”, insisted Emmanuel Macron.
“Unity of the Nation”
Faithful to the “at the same time” which is dear to him, the Head of State devoted a good half of his intervention to internal affairs, while projecting himself abroad. Thus Emmanuel Macron, unsurprisingly, returned at length to the war in Ukraine and its consequences for peace and stability in Europe, seeking to position himself both as an actor and an observer of a period of great upheaval. “Who would have imagined at that moment that, thinking of emerging with great difficulty from a planetary epidemic, we would have to face unimaginable challenges in a few weeks? The war returned to European soil after Russian aggression setting its sights on Ukraine and its democracy, tens, perhaps hundreds of thousands of deaths, an energy crisis a threatening food crisis, the invocation of the worst threats including nuclear? “, he developed, less lyrical than usual.
READ ALSOHyperactive internationally, does Macron have a hidden objective?
Emmanuel Macron praised the efforts made by the French – “thousands of you have shown solidarity by welcoming refugees fleeing the Russian invasion to our towns and villages” – before adopting a more solemn tone in the end of his speech, reassuring Ukraine of France’s unfailing support. “My dear compatriots, I want here and this evening on your behalf to tell our Ukrainian friends that their fight for the defense of your nation is heroic and that it inspires us. During the coming year, we will be unfailingly by your side,” promised the Head of State. And to declare that “we will help [les Ukrainiens] until victory. »
Despite these reassurances and the “resolutely optimistic” tone adopted, the re-elected president struggled to set a clear course for his second term. Six months after his re-election, the president, jostled by the defeat of the legislative elections, without an absolute majority in the National Assembly, still seems to be looking for a “second wind”. “How to deliver a message of optimism when the president himself is completely in the dark? falsely wondered a Renaissance deputy a few days ago, doubtful about the potential effect of these vows. Advocating “the imperative of the unity of the nation” is one thing. Being able to govern it is another…