Emmanuel Macron accused of "abandoning" the EU to solve the yellow vest crisis | World | New



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Mr Jadot, a senior official of the French Green Party, accused Macron of diverting the European debate in order to quell the anti-government rebellion against the yellow jacket that was invading France.

Asked by Sud Radio about its agreement with the government's plan to ensure that the referendum coincides with the pressing vote of the EU, he said: "There is a risk that the European elections will be stolen at the expense of the politicization of national politics ".

"We finally have the impression that Emmanuel Macron, like too many European leaders, is abandoning the European battle, is using Europe to solve his own domestic problems."

He added that a referendum on May 26 "would empty the European election of its contents, destroy the national debate on Europe that we desperately need, and I find it incredibly dangerous."

Mr. Jardot continued: "You can see this trap in which Emmanuel Macron imprisons everyone.

"In truth, he does not want the election to be a moment of taking into account for Europe, but a referendum for or against himself."

The conservative French weekly newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche (JDD) reported on Sunday that Macron was planning to hold a referendum on another concession to protestors wearing a yellow vest.

Voters must answer multiple-choice questions about their willingness to reduce the number of legislators, new terms of office for elected officials, to count blank protest votes in elections, and new measures to ensure "voter turnout". citizens "in public life, top presidential sources told the JDD.

But opposition leaders have since rejected the popular vote as a dreadful maneuver to deflect the social crisis triggered by the yellow vest movement, as well as Macron's refusal to reconsider his radical reform agenda.

The rebellion of the yellow vest, which owes its name to the bright lifejackets that all French motorists must wear in their cars, has become the worst political crisis of the Macron presidency.

A 12th consecutive week of Saturday rallies attracted some 58,600 protesters in Paris and other major cities.

The demonstrations began on November 17 as a result of the backlash from rising fuel prices, but quickly degenerated into a wider rebellion against Macron's liberal economic policies, widely seen as favoring urban elite over to the rural working clbad.

In December, Mr Macron announced a package of costly measures for low-income families, including a $ 100 minimum wage increase (£ 87), tax cuts for retirees with a shortage of money. money and overtime not taxed.

He then organized a two-month national debate to discuss the government's policy choices and create a new "contract for the nation".

The May referendum is seen as a way to conclude the political debate and could also serve as a response to the demands of the yellow vests for a more participatory democracy.

The tight circle of Mr. Macron tried Monday to minimize the rumors that a referendum would be organized on the agenda, some saying to AFP that, even if "everything is on the table, nothing has yet been decided".

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe responded to the rumors cautiously by informing reporters that a referendum was "not yet on the agenda".

European Affairs Minister Nathalie Loiseau, for her part said Sunday that a referendum coinciding with the EU vote could "embarrbad", adding that it would be better if May 26 is " on Europe ".

Mr Macron told reporters last week that a popular referendum was "one of those things on the table" on which "we should think".

He also supported the idea of ​​organizing more referendums, claiming that previous French governments had "given the impression that elites know better than citizens" too long.

The European elections, which will take place from 23 to 26 May, are seen as a fierce confrontation between liberal Europhiles such as Mr Macron and the far-right populists calling for a return to national sovereignty and the closure of borders.

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