President Emmanuel Macron sent this Sunday evening, December 31, a message of “unity” in his wishes to the French, emphasizing the unifying event of the Olympic Games, in the hope of beginning the relaunch of his second mandate, after a turbulent year on social and political levels.
Emmanuel Macron sent this Sunday evening, December 31, a message of “unity” in his traditional wishes to the French.
He began by expressing his “gratitude towards our compatriots who this evening still protect, care for, help, ensure the continuity of the life of the nation”, before mentioning the Hamas hostages. “2023 will have been marked by the continuation of the war in Ukraine, the war today in the Middle East”, continues Emmanuel Macron, addressing his thoughts to the “families” of the hostages still held by Hamas. “We have not forgotten them”, assures the head of state.
After welcoming the pension reform, which he supports despite its “unpopularity”, Emmanuel Macron welcomed the adoption of the immigration bill, which will provide, according to him, “the necessary instruments to better enforce the principles of the Republic. This will make it possible both to better “fight against illegal immigration” and to “better integrate those who are intended to stay on our soil”, he said.
“A year of determination”
Emmanuel Macron declared on Sunday that he wanted to make 2024 a “year of determination” to continue to “act” in “the interest of the Nation”, during his wishes to the French from the Elysée garden, in front of the flags of the nations Olympic Games in view of the Paris Olympics.
“We will be determined to act for the school, childhood and education in order to restore the level of our students, the authority of our teachers, the strength of our secular and republican teaching,” said the head of the the State in its traditional speech of December 31, promising a “civic rearmament” with still vague contours after “economic rearmament” and “rearmament of the State and our public services”.
A “decisive choice” between “continuing Europe or blocking it”
The President of the Republic also spoke of the “decisive choice” which he believes will be played out during the European elections in June, between “continuing Europe or blocking it”.
“We will have to choose a stronger and more sovereign Europe in the light of the legacy of Jacques Delors” who died on Wednesday, he declared, believing that it will also be necessary to decide between “affirming the strength of our liberal democracies or give in to the lies that sow chaos.”
Emmanuel Macron was speaking after a year 2023 rich in crises and controversies, from pension reform to immigration reform and the urban riots of the summer.
He has also just fueled the controversy by defending actor Gérard Depardieu, targeted for sexist remarks and three complaints of sexual assault or rape which he refutes.
Faced with accusations of compromise with the far right for the immigration law, the vote for which fractured the majority, the start of the school year promises to be perilous for Emmanuel Macron.
Many meetings for France
He is also confronted internationally with the war between Israel and Hamas, where his calls for “a lasting ceasefire” remain unheeded, while France has the largest Jewish and Muslim communities in Europe.
A flagship text on the end of life must be presented to the Council of Ministers before June. Another highly symbolic reform, the inclusion of voluntary termination of pregnancy (abortion) in the Constitution, hoped by the executive for March 5 via a meeting of the two assemblies in Congress in Versailles. Other initiatives are expected to boost the return to full employment.
The year 2024 also promises to be full of events for France, with, in addition to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral, the 80th anniversary of the Allied Landings in Normandy, and the challenge of the European elections while the National Rally of the boss of the far right Marine Le Pen is favorite in the polls.
2024-01-01 03:28:18
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