France's Macron seeks to reassert authority
World
France's Macron seeks to reassert authority
(AFP) - For his prime-time event, Macron has invited some 400 journalists to the Elysée Palace to challenge him with open questions once he’s done presenting his refurbished policy declaration.
The so-called “meeting with the nation” – to be broadcast live on several mainstream TV channels – is a departure from Macron's preferred style of closed-door speech-giving.
The last time he held a national press conference of this kind was back in April 2019 – when France was in the grips of rolling anti-government Yellow Vest protests.
Cabinet shake-up
Tuesday’s presser, described by the Elysée as an extension of Macron’s New Year’s address, comes a week to the day after 34-year-old Gabriel Attal was appointed the country’s youngest-ever prime minister.
It also follows Thursday’s cabinet shake-up in which Macron tilted his centrist government rightwards with the appointment of two members of the opposition Republican Party to ministries.
On Friday Macron called on ministers of his slimmed-down cabinet to serve as "revolutionaries" and not as mere "managers".
Ahead of the press conference, taking place at 8:15 pm CET, Macron on Monday met with Attal, the newly reshuffled cabinet, and lawmakers from his ruling Renaissance party – along with those from allied parties.
Themed speeches
On 31 December, Macron spoke of future projects to boost education and employment – promising a political meeting “in the coming weeks”, without offering further details.
His other most recent speeches have been devoted to specific themes, such as one he delivered on Franco-African relations in February 2023.
When standing for re-election in March 2022, Macron gave a four-hour speech to present his presidential campaign programme.
Despite winning a second term Macron lost his parliamentary majority – making the second half of his presidency substantially more challenging.
Tuesday will reveal the course that Macron and his rebooted team intend to take until France goes to the polls to elect a new president in April 2027.
Macron cannot stand for a third term, and the next elections are seen as far-right leader Marine Le Pen's best chance to take the Elysée.
