It must be the embodiment of “the new method”, promised by Emmanuel Macron. Thursday, September 8, the President of the Republic launches in Marcoussis (Essonne) the National Council for Refoundation (CNR) which must “work together” government, Parliament and administration, social partners and associations, representatives of territories and citizens on subjects as varied as school, health, public services or purchasing power. But even before its launch, the project, supposed to mark the second five-year term of the Head of State, has lost ground. The political opposition and certain trade unions refuse to take part, denouncing “a gadget”, “a communication tool” who “shows that the president wants to circumvent the democratic authorities”.
The refusals, which have been linked in recent days, leave a bitter taste within the majority. Officially, the supporters of Emmanuel Macron deplore that, “for political reasons, they [les opposants] withdraw”says a Renaissance executive, while others point to a strategy “irresponsible”. “The CNR offers them a platform. They refuse. Let them be furious!”tackles Renaissance MP Ludovic Mendès. “We cannot say on the one hand that the president despises intermediate bodies and, on the other, not to come around the table”annoyed a ministerial adviser. “We only win in dialogue, adds the Elysée. The empty chair policy does not move matters forward.”
However, behind the scenes, some minds are beginning to worry about the turn of events.
“I won’t bullshit you [baratiner], it’s gone badlyloose an influential parliamentarian of the majority. No one anticipated that.” The “it” in question? The distrust aroused by the CNR with political parties – with in particular the non-participation of Gérard Larcher, president of the Senate –, unions, but also associations of elected officials. The latter will finally participate in Thursday’s meeting after a long meeting Monday evening with Emmanuel Macron, who did everything to convince them to come.
“The approach is interesting and meaningful, especially if the stakeholders are broad and representative”says Horizons MP Frédéric Valletoux. “The fewer the participants around the table, the more it weakens the legitimacy of the approach”he acknowledges. “These are not ideal conditions to start”, abounds another parliamentarian of the majority. Others are even more scathing. “The CNR is a bit like the icing on the cake of an already busy back-to-school season”sighs a macronist.
“It’s a bit of a back-to-school flop, this thing. I’m not sure how we can think that the oppositions are going to play the game.”
Support from Emmanuel Macronat franceinfo
Among the refusals of the guests, one absence will be particularly noticed: that of the former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, on a visit to Canada. The leader of Horizons will be replaced by the mayor of Albi, Stephanie Guiraud-Chaumeil. “He did not invent a trip to Canada to escape the CNR, it had been planned for a long time”, defends Frédéric Valletoux. But unofficially, “Edouard Philippe absolutely does not believe in the CNR”recognizes another of his relatives with franceinfo.
In addition to the refusals of certain guests, there is a lack of information. Framework, participants, calendar, method of taking up proposals… Everything remains to be defined or specified. “I’m willing to give the product a chance, as long as someone explains to me where we’re going”supports a member of the majority, who admits all the same to ask “questions on the scope, organization and articulation with Parliament”.
In reality, Thursday is only“a starting point (…) a process that begins”, announces the Elysée. The fifty or so participants (political, trade union, association representatives, etc.) will have to define “the framework, the themes, the way we are going to work together and the territorial declination” of the CNR.
If the various projects that must be launched before the end of September are not yet known, the pilot of the project has been identified. It is François Bayrou, the president of the MoDem and essential partner of the president of the Republic, who will be the secretary general. A designation that leaves more than one skeptic within the majority. “And as a bonus, Bayrou is driving!”, quips a macronist. “I am not sure of the choice of the secretary general, I would not have taken a politician”, slips a Renaissance frame.
Beyond the question of François Bayrou, everyone hopes above all that the CNR will give birth to concrete proposals. “Nobody will tolerate that it does not lead to reforms”notes a parliamentarian from the majority.
“There is an urgent need for this to produce something. I fear otherwise it will turn against us and the president.”
A majority parliamentarianat franceinfo
The experience of the Citizens’ Convention on the climate is still remembered. The very partial resumption of the proposals formulated by the participants, far from the initial promises, had generated disappointment and anger. “We must be clear about the methods and learn the lessons of the Citizens’ Climate Convention”, slips a ministerial adviser. And also avoid the pitfall of the great national debate born of the crisis of “yellow vests”, which had also given birth to thousands of proposals fallen into oblivion.
On the side of the Elysée, we assure that “We don’t do this exercise [le CNR] so that it gets lost in limbo. That’s why there will be appointment clauses, so that we can move forward.” Promises that do not dispel doubts. “I don’t know how you can sit all these people down to get something out of it, I remain skepticalconfides a framework of the majority. It’s an ersatz think tank, with a Gaullist name”. But, in macronie, when in doubt, we defer to the chef. “The president always lands on his feet”, wants to believe one of his relatives.