Two years that he had not lent himself to the exercise. The President of the Republic again complied with the traditional interview of July 14, Thursday, from the gardens of the Elysée. Emmanuel Macron, who has was questioned for an hour by journalists Caroline Roux and Anne-Claire Coudray, took the opportunity to make several announcements: he wishes to set up a “sobriety plan” starting this summer to consume less electricity. The Head of State also assured that he wanted go “further on the reform of unemployment insurance”. Here’s what to take away from his statements.
>> REPLAY. Watch the interview with Emmanuel Macron on the occasion of July 14
On the war in Ukraine: an “energy sobriety plan” presented this summer
Because the war in Ukraine “will last”the President of the Republic considered that it was necessary “prepare ourselves for a scenario where we have to do without Russian gas entirely”. Emmanuel Macron, who accused Moscow of using this gas as “war weapon”, has explained that France was in the process of diversifying its supply and replenishing its stocks. He also specified that it was necessary “enter into a logic of sobriety”. “I am going to ask our public administrations, our large groups, to prepare a plan to consume less this summer”. “This requires exemplarity and responsibility”he said.
He therefore calls on companies, administrations but also citizens “to consume less”. “We will build a plan and we will try to pay attention to the lighting at night. We are going to make a sobriety and load shedding plan”, he specified.
On the climate crisis: “Accelerating the response”
“The climate emergency is already here”, said Emmanuel Macron again, paying tribute to the firefighters who are fighting at the moment against fires, particularly in Gironde. But it takes “accelerate the response”, he immediately acknowledged, particularly on fossil fuels: “I asked the government that the taxation that we receive in this period on oil go completely to finance the acceleration of this energy transition.”
On the job: go “further on the reform of unemployment insurance”, “dthis summer”
“There is no social model if there is no work to finance it”declared the Head of State, who once again praised the value of work. “We must go further” on the reform of unemployment insurance, announces Emmanuel Macron, and this “from this summer”. He cited the reform of the RSA, the promise of his presidential program: “They must commit, of course, those who receive the RSA. No one wants to stay on the RSA”.
On training, the President of the Republic also announced “a series of reforms” during its second five-year term, in particular that of vocational high schools. “When summer returns, a labor reform law will be needed”he announces.
On the pension reform: “From the summer of 2023, we must have a first entry into force”
“What I am committed to is to say that we must gradually shift the legal retirement age to 65 by the 2030s. On the pension reform, which was part of his presidential program, Emmanuel Macron has his plan in mind: “I think that from the summer of 2023, we must have a first entry into force”.
The President of the Republic calls for “responsible compromise” to implement a reform that he had to abort during his first five-year term. “The discussion must begin at the start of the school year. At the end of the summer, there will be a discussion with all the living forces of the nation on all subjectscontinued Emmanuel Macron. There will then be work with the trade union and employer forces, then with the political forces in Parliament.”
“I know we have to work longer. We have to do this reform.”
Emmanuel Macronduring his presidential interview on July 14
On the Uber Files: “JI would do it again”
Unsurprisingly, Emmanuel Macron was obviously asked about the Uber Files and the revelations about his work in favor of the establishment of the American group in France when he was Minister of the Economy. “I do not have a temperament to be under the influence. Nothing has shown this in these alleged investigations”says Emmanuel Macron, who assures that “we have opened the market”. Would he do it again today? “Totally, II would do it again“he assumed. “We have opened thousands of jobs”continued the tenant of the Elysée. “I will always be for us to open up possibilities in our economy”.
On the National Assembly: “There is no majority against the government except with a baroque hitch”
“Are you afraid of spending a five-year term seeing your projects challenged?”asked Anne-Claire Coudray. “Nope”, immediately replied Emmanuel Macron. About article 2 of the Covid bill which has been challenged by the oppositions in the Assembly, on Tuesday evening, he mentioned “a nocturnal heat stroke” and “a baroque hitch”. “I believe in the spirit of responsibility of our oppositions. LFI, RN, LR deputies voted together. I do not believe that the LR deputies have made a commitment in front of their voters to vote with LFI and RN to prevent the establishment of a border pass”tackled the head of state.
On Covid-19: “The peak of the seventh wave is over”
Emmanuel Macron has not made any particular announcement regarding the Covid-19 epidemic. He simply clarified that “the peak of the seventh wave is being passed.” “We are preparing the recall campaign for the most fragile”he also said.