Presidents of parties represented in Parliament can mark the date in their calendar. On August 30, everyone is invited to meet Emmanuel Macron “in a place in the Paris region”. All, including La France insoumise and the National Rally, usually excluded on the grounds of not belonging to the “republican arc”. This is the first stage of the executive’s “great political initiative”, announced by the president in Figaro Magazine in the middle of the summer.
The head of state clarified the outlines in a river interview with the newspaper Le Point, saying: “Our nation is going through a moment that I consider unprecedented”. “I consider that my responsibility is to propose to all the political forces represented in our assemblies to try to act together”, he justifies from the outset. The objective is to allow everyone to speak, “about the international situation and its consequences for France”, “the nights of riots that we have known” and subjects such as “the family, the school, universal national service, the transmission of our culture, our language, the regulation of screens, but also our organization and our institutions in all territories”. Emmanuel Macron then hopes to find “useful agreements for France”, taking the form of “immediate decisions”, “drafts and legislative proposals” and even “draft referendums”.
“The compatible oppositions are too divided (…), we can only constitute project majorities”, also recognizes the head of state. Excluding in fact any coalition scenario, yet claimed last March to Elisabeth Borne. The situation in Parliament remains particularly fragile; the review of the budget and that of the law devoted to immigration promise to be particularly tense. The Republicans have indeed already brandished the threat of a motion of censure, if one or the other of these two texts were finally adopted by way of 49.3 without meeting their expectations.
The LR president, Éric Ciotti, also had the opportunity to discuss with Emmanuel Macron by telephone on Tuesday evening, according to information from the Parisian confirmed to Figaro. They discussed together the major current issues, as well as the new presidential initiative. The Republicans, who should respond favorably, however reserve an official communication at the end of their political return, scheduled for this weekend in Levens (Alpes-Maritimes). The boss of the National Rally, Jordan Bardella, has already confirmed his presence. While the left-wing parties say they are still waiting to receive an invitation in good and due form.
Emmanuel Macron also made multiple announcements. Concerning the school, first, which he now considers as a “regular” subject, and for which he calls to “get out of French hypocrisies”. The Head of State wants to bring forward the start of the school year for students “assessed” as being the most in difficulty, to have them return to school from August 20. He also wants to “reclaim the month of June for students who do not take tests at the end of the year”. “There are too many vacations and too busy days,” he says. On immigration, the Head of State assures us that “the situation we know is not tenable and (that) we must significantly reduce immigration, starting with illegal immigration”, opening the door to a reduction in legal immigration.
Before the publication of the presidential interview, it was Elisabeth Borne who answered France Bleu listeners for an hour. At the end of the Council of Ministers back to school, the Prime Minister assured that “there is no question of increasing household taxes, on the contrary”. But the economic reality has indeed caught up with the executive. If taxes will not increase, some taxes should be raised. Thus, the increase in medical deductibles is “a track” explored by the government, which will have to decide the question “soon”, admitted Elisabeth Borne. Conversely, it ruled out any plans to reassess alcohol taxation. “I fully hear the strong expectations of the middle classes,” hammered the head of government.
A subject that will be discussed on Sunday in Tourcoing, where Gérald Darmanin will bring together his relatives to discuss the concerns of “people who earn less than 2,500 euros per month”. An appointment which should highlight the new ambitions of the Minister of the Interior, whom Nicolas Sarkozy would like to see at the Élysée in 2027. “We are in 2023, we are preparing for 2024. 2027 is a long way off”, scolded Elisabeth Borne, who was not invited to the start of the school year organized by her minister. “Me, my concern is really the cohesion of the government, the effectiveness of government action, the unity of the majority,” she said while the head of state did not makes no reference to the initiative of the tenant of Place Beauvau.
