Wishes from Emmanuel Macron: the President puts 2023 under the sign of “pension”

As his sixth wish as president, Emmanuel Macron decided to put his speech under the sign “work”. This word was repeated dozens of times… And in order to better convey this topic, the Head of State stepped out of his corner office (the very one where he usually looks over his affairs, the room of the Elysee Palace, less bright than the official office). . Behind him is his personal library, which contains volumes on François Mitterrand, General de Gaulle, the architect Jean Nouvel, etc. As for television production, it was content with a minimalist approach, without the usual camera games.

Less than two weeks before the presentation of the flagship reform of the second five-year plan, which was postponed in the first, the Head of State wanted to start artillery preparation. Because 2023 will be “the year of pension reform” for “years, decades ahead,” he assured. The new rules should apply “from the end of summer 2023”. He promises a “fair” version with a “progressive extension” of “ten years”.

“Let’s Be Proud”

According to Emmanuel Macron, “long work” should promote growth, reform the school, fight “conservatism” and “the spirit of defeat.” “Our work and our commitment” should even, argued the owner of the palace, participate in the fight against illegal immigration. Approach to another draft of this early 2023: text by Gérald Darmanin and Olivier Dussop on immigration presented on 1 February in the Council of Ministers.

By the way, the head of state listed other projects, such as the atomic energy bill, which will go to the Senate in mid-January, and the expansion of the universal civil service, which should take place in the near future, the president assures. He also returned to last year to try to inspire optimism: despite “unimaginable challenges” (war in Ukraine, energy crisis), France was able to “keep inflation in check”, create jobs, stabilize unemployment at its lowest level. “Let’s be proud,” the head of state began in front of the camera.

“The Imperative of Unity”

The ghost of a new wave of Covid? The head of state recalled that from this Sunday, new measures will apply to travelers from China. And he encouraged people over 65 to get vaccinated. Finally, before concluding his speech, recorded in the evening shortly before 8 p.m., Emmanuel Macron renewed his support for the Ukrainian people. “We will help each other until we win. Count on France, on Europe.”

During his 19 minutes of wishes, the head of state will try, as required by the exercise, to put himself above the fray, urging the French to respect the “imperative of unity”, scourging the “spirit of division” so that the country remains “one and united” in “such a harsh world.” Weeks before a possible anti-pension reform social movement, this call smacked of…wishful thinking.