Emmanuel Macron was the guest of “4 Truths”, Wednesday April 13 on France 2. The outgoing president notably returned to institutional issues, declaring himself in favor of the seven-year term, and on purchasing power. He also welcomed the support given by Nicolas Sarkozy while affirming that there was no “disagree with anyone” and by emphasizing the support provided by other personalities, such as Lionel Jospin. Here’s what to take away from his speech.
>> Presidential 2022: follow the latest information on the campaign in our direct
The seven-year term, “a good option”
“The seven-year term seems to me a good option but it will not be valid for the coming term, we do not change the rules during the game”Emmanuel Macron explained on France 2 on Wednesday. On Tuesday, he had already estimated that a seven-year term was “a good pace for the presidential election” and “a good breath compared to the rhythm of the legislative elections”. The mandate of the President of the Republic was reduced from seven to five years from the presidential election of 2002.
Regarding the establishment of a proportional vote for the legislative elections, the outgoing president recalled on France 2 that he was “rather favorable” and that was “a good thing”.
The ability to “gather political forces”
“The fractures that there are in the country mean that I will have to seek not simply to have a majority in the Assembly, but also to build a capacity to bring together political forces that do not think totally like me on all the subjects, but who would be ready on a series of reforms to work with me”, said Emmanuel Macron. It also calls for setting up “a cross-party commission with all political sensitivities, which can submit to the two assemblies a proposal for the reform of our Constitution to renovate it”.
The RN, outside “the constitutional framework”
For Emmanuel Macron, Marine Le Pen’s desire to “change our Constitution without changing the rules” is a “madness”. “When we have a Constitution, we respect the rules”, insists the Head of State. “Despite all efforts, the true face of the far right is coming back, it is a face that does not respect freedoms, the constitutional framework, the independence of the press, and fundamental freedoms, hard and dearly acquired rights. which are at the heart of our values, such as the abolition of the death penalty”said Emmanuel Macron.
The indexation of pensions to inflation, “from July”
“I want to be able to index pensions to inflation from July”said the outgoing president, who wants “keep lowering taxes” over its possible next five-year term. On the other hand, Emmanuel Macron believes that “to reduce VAT from 5.5% to 0% on prices that already have reduced VAT is to take people for fools, because it doesn’t really lower prices”.
He adds that it will be necessary to consider the best method for “support households in need through a food check”, subject to means testing. Emmanuel Macron wishes to “reduce the debt from 2026” and justified its pension reform because “he wants social progress in our country”.
The faster deployment of renewable energies
Emmanuel Macron explained that he wanted “enrich” its program in ecological matters by taking up the ideas of “ecological planning” of Jean-Luc Mélenchon or the proposals of Yannick Jadot in terms of“circular economy”. He argued that his project was “the only one that allows us to quickly get out of dependence on fossil fuels, especially from Russia or countries with which we may have geopolitical risks”.
But he wishes “step up the pace” on its main axes: “sobriety” energy through the renovation of housing and a system of leasing electric vehicles for low-income families, the deployment of renewable energies and the nuclear program. “I believe in the ecology of construction, I do not believe in the ecology of decay”did he declare. “I’m not going to say that I’m going to get out of nuclear power, which was [la] position [de Jean-Luc Mélenchon]because it is not good for our country”he underlined, but it is necessary “enrich, intensify, invest more in all of these subjects”.
“War crimes” in Ukraine, rather than “genocide”
Emmanuel Macron wants to be “careful” with the terms used to describe the war in Ukraine and refuses “the escalation of words”while Joe Biden denounces a “genocide” led by Russia. “They are brotherly peoples. Genocide, it has a meaning. The Ukrainian people, the Russian people are brotherly peoples”he insists. “Russia has unilaterally unleashed a brutal war”said Emmanuel Macron again. “It is now established that war crimes have been committed by the Russian army and that it is now necessary to find those responsible and to go to justice”.