Jacques Serais / Photo credits: LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP
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2:28 p.m., January 17, 2024
President Emmanuel Macron held a major press conference on Tuesday evening from the Élysée during which he tried to outline a “fairer and stronger” France. Two hours which did not convince the opposition. “We are squarely in denial and the old tricks of leftism […] I am absolutely dismayed by the president’s endless logorrhea”, said RN deputy Jean-Philippe Tanguy at the microphone of Europe 1.
Emmanuel Macron poses as guarantor of order
Emmanuel Macron tried to pose as the guarantor of order. “Having a stronger France also means ensuring order,” he said. Authority goes with emancipation and order with progress, he insists. “Order, by better controlling our borders. Order, by fighting against incivility. Order, by fighting against drugs. Order, by also fighting against radical Islam.”
But on all these points, the Head of State further defended his record and made few new announcements, other than the establishment of ten net operations per week to fight against drug trafficking. With 4,000 deal points in France, on paper it would take almost eight years to eradicate them all, with a success rate of 100%.
Emmanuel Macron also returned to the riots at the end of June and beginning of July. “There was a relentless response from the State and the justice system,” he welcomes. But this is not an immigration issue for the president. Six months later, the explanation lies in the fact that these young people were often without school, with the baccalaureate reform, and that they were not going on vacation either.
No surprises in substance
The entourage of the Head of State assured that this “meeting with the Nation” would be a new breath of life. It will only have been a breath. In terms of form, the head of state mastered the exercise with skill. A short introduction, concise answers and respected timing… But while he asks his government for boldness, Emmanuel Macron is basically not surprised.
The Head of State’s course is not gaining clarity
The head of state defended his record, promised a better future than today and made announcements about schools such as the possible generalization of the single outfit in 2026. But on several major issues, such as whether the decline in the birth rate or the broadening of the scope of the referendum to social issues, the President has kept things vague.
Consequence: its course has not gained in clarity. “No change of course but the continuation of overtaking,” insisted Emmanuel Macron. He also worked to speak to right-wing voters, appealing here to “common sense”, declaring that he wanted “France to remain France”. A way of trying to seduce, without giving real proof of love.