Arthur De Laborde // Photo credit: Andrea Savorani Neri / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP
In a letter sent on Friday, Emmanuel Macron invited the party leaders of a group in Parliament to a working meeting next Wednesday. Security, international politics… Many topics will be discussed. Objective: to build new bridges with the opposition, which the President is struggling to seduce.
It’s back to school time for Emmanuel Macron. The President of the Republic is preparing for a very political week. In a letter dated Friday, the President invites the leaders of parties with a group in Parliament for an afternoon of work and a dinner this Wednesday in a place which remains to be confirmed in the Paris region.
“Hand held out”
The Head of State explains that the discussions will focus on “the international situation and its consequences for France”, “the effectiveness of public action”, but also on “the nights of riots that we have experienced” for take decisions aimed at strengthening “the cohesion of the nation”.
Objective of the Head of State: to convince the opposition to seize this “loyal outstretched hand”, according to the expression used by Emmanuel Macron. Because deprived of an absolute majority since his re-election, the President of the Republic has so far never succeeded in establishing a semblance of trust with the opposition. But he hopes that several agreements will emerge in the coming months on key subjects, in particular on immigration and insecurity.
the shadow of a new motion of censure
On the left, as among the Republicans and the National Rally, there is skepticism about the chances of reaching a consensus on such divisive issues. Even in Macronie, doubts are being heard as the Head of State has got into the habit of staging initiatives that are supposed to respond to crises without real success, like the great national debate, the National Council of refoundation through citizen conventions.
However, Emmanuel Macron insists that “he wants to move forward”, and the president knows that this fall he will be at the mercy of a motion of censure voted this time also by the right, and therefore likely to bring down the government. But even if his ambition to mobilize all the political forces ends in failure, Emmanuel Macron will be able when the time comes to recall his goodwill and designate those responsible: the opposition parties refusing to “build” the “agreements” to which he invites them to build this week.