France: President Emmanuel Macron defends reforms

Emmanuel Macron is considered a committed reformer – but the dissatisfaction of the French with regard to his policy grows. After a year in power, the first euphoria for the young president has disappeared, poll numbers are decreasing. In his speech on the state of the Union to the French Parliament, the head of state sought to revive the enthusiasm of citizens.

"We must build the welfare state of the 21st century," Macron said at the Palace of Versailles. In his speech of about 90 minutes, he described a series of planned changes in the social system, such as pensions and health.

Following his election in May 2017, the president launched an ambitious reform course, initially focused on projects that benefited the economy and investors. As a result, the political left has accused it of being a "president of the rich" for a long time. But even in his own camp, there have been recent calls for greater attention to social policy

"A Policy for the Whole Nation"

The President has vigorously defended his previous reforms to both Houses of Parliament Monday. A corporate policy is not a policy for the rich, but a policy for the entire nation, a policy for employment, "said Macron. 39, he could not succeed, and was "modest, but determined."

In July, he wants to receive the 100 largest companies in the country to demand a commitment to training and employment in the fields In French society, an "inequality of destiny" has developed, explained Mr. Macron.It is not the birth, happiness or networks that should decide the social situation of the country. Individual, but "talents, achievements and merits."

At the same time, Macron announced it wanted to further reduce public spending.His government will make decisions in the coming weeks. State should be thinner, he said.EU had dismissed the Franc e of the deficit procedure only in June after nine years.

Opposition to the boycott speech

With the performance, the president took over after a little over a year of tenure – in France he was compared to the speech on the state of the nation given by the US president a times a year.

Party The Republic in March recognized the speech of about an hour with ovations. Opponents of the left camp and the conservative camp boycott the speech against him. His critics accuse Macron of acting as a "monarch" and using Parliament as a voting machine for his reforms.