Unique outfit for school, work, maternity leave, vacation… What to remember from Emmanuel Macron’s statements

The format was presented as unique. Emmanuel Macron spoke at length Tuesday evening during a major press conference broadcast on prime-time television. The President of the Republic presented a “new course” to renew the difficult five-year term.

The head of state began with a twenty-minute speech in which he made statements about the economic as well as the “civilian” “rearmament” of France. Medical merits, taxes, the dispute between Oudea and Castera… Then dozens of journalists gathered in the town hall of the Elysee Palace interrogated him on a variety of topics. Here’s what we should remember from his speech.

The “Unique Outfit” was tested in about a hundred establishments

Emmanuel Macron has confirmed his commitment to the “rearmament” of France. He also said he wanted to make it “stronger” and “fairer.” With this in mind, the president has increased the number of announcements about schools to act “from childhood.” Thus, from the beginning of the 2024 school year, civic education will be “updated” and its hourly volume will double. The head of state also wants theater classes to become a “mandatory pass” at the university. Art history will also return.

The President of the Republic also stated that he “fully supports the study of La Marseillaise in primary schools.”

The “unique suit” “which erases inequalities between families” will be trialled in around 100 voluntary agencies from next academic year, he also said. If the results are convincing, wearing this outfit will become “universal in 2026.” The then Minister of National Education, Gabriel Attal, had already announced a “massive experiment” in school uniforms in December, without specifying the terms.

Ten “clean-up” operations per week to combat drug trafficking

Emmanuel Macron has said he wants to carry out ten “clean-up” operations a week against drug trafficking and “drug traffickers” in “all categories of cities” in a bid to restore “order.” “Starting next week we will increase the pace. Ten operations of this type will be carried out every week,” said the President of the Republic, clarifying that this problem affected not only “large cities,” but also “medium-sized cities that were less familiar with it” and “sometimes even villages.”

“Maternity leave” instead of parental leave

“Our France will also become stronger thanks to the revival of the birth rate,” continued the President of the Republic. The head of state announced the establishment of a new “maternity leave, which will replace the current parental leave.” This device will allow parents to stay with the child “for six months if they wish,” Emmanuel Macron explained. It will also launch a major plan to combat infertility, “which affects many couples,” he added.

Measures to “earn a better life through work”

The president asked the government to take measures that would allow people to “earn a better life through work” and public servants to be paid more “on merit.” The head of state called on the government to “work hard” to “enable people to make a better living through work, with the provision of our tax and social measures, as well as through negotiations in certain sectors.”

He also asked that for civil servants, “the main criterion for promotion and remuneration,” along with length of service, should be merit, “in any case, much greater than today.” This reform “will begin in the coming weeks,” he assured.

Regularization of foreign doctors against medical merit

The President of the Republic also called for a “radical solution” to the problem of medical deserts. This will be done, in part, “by freeing up time for doctors so they can work better between community medicine and hospitals.” Emmanuel Macron also wants to “streamline the number of foreign doctors” who keep the system “at arm’s length” and find themselves in a situation of “administrative instability.”

Answering a question, the president also stated that he does not support the introduction of “restrictions” to limit the freedom of doctors. “This solution seems simple, but I don’t believe in it,” said the president, who, in particular, calls for “freeing up medical time.”

Two billion euro tax cuts for the middle class

Emmanuel Macron has announced that the two billion euro tax cuts he plans for the middle class will take place from 2025. categories in 2025,” he said. The measure was announced last spring, but no implementation date has been set.

“There may be bans” and “restrictions” on screens

Emmanuel Macron did not rule out the possibility of “bans” and “restrictions” on children’s use of screens after a meeting of experts on the issue last week. “We left many families without instructions. (…) We need to reach a scientific consensus so that scientists begin to propose a plan to us and so that we provide information for the public debate that will take place later. And therefore there may be prohibitions. There may be restrictions” and “possibly also restrictions on content,” the president said at a press conference. He said he wanted “the best scientists (…) to be able to tell us up to that age that it is unwise to put a screen in front of a child.”

Universal National Service in the process of “generalization”

Asked about the unrest last June, Emmanuel Macron said “we will move towards extending universal national service to the second grade,” without elaborating. He believed that responses to the unrest included support for “certain families”, “access to sport and culture” or “reorganization of school time”. “Is this an immigration issue? No,” he also waved it off.

“There should be no conflict” between public and private in school

“I think there cannot be a conflict between public and private institutions,” said Emmanuel Macron, when asked about the controversy between Oudea and Castera. “We don’t judge people” for choosing to enroll their children in public or private school, “it’s a personal choice,” he said. “The controversy of the moment should not force us to abandon our axis: the success of our children and a strong school,” the president continued.

RN, “party of collective impoverishment” and “lies”

The president will “do everything” to prevent Marine Le Pen from coming to power, he said. He estimates that “to avoid the return of extremes, we must attack what makes people vote for them,” namely, in his words, mass unemployment, illegal immigration, and “feelings of deprivation.” “National Rally is the party of collective impoverishment” and “lies,” he also accused, likening RN to “the party of mild anger.”

‘No rules’ for accused ministers

Emmanuel Macron returned to blame several ministers, including Rachida Dati. “There are no rules that mean that an accused minister must leave (the government),” he assured, recalling that accused ministers were subsequently “rehabilitated.” During the 2017 presidential campaign, the president nevertheless confirmed that the accused minister should resign. He also praised Rashida Dati’s “energy”, “talent” and “freedom”, which will be “useful for the Culture”.

Macron calls on us to ‘respect’ Amelie Oudéa-Caster’s choice

The president called on people to “respect” the choice of Amelie Oudea-Castera, the national education minister who has been at the center of controversy for days over awkward comments about public schools. “The minister made a choice for her children, this is a personal choice,” the president said, believing that he does not need to be “indoctrinated into this.” “The minister made a public statement that was clumsy, she apologized for it and did the right thing,” the head of state added.

Tribute to the victims of the Hamas attack on February 7

The head of state announced that tribute would be paid to the French victims of the Hamas attack in Israel. It will be held at the Invalides on February 7, four months after the Hamas attacks. “I will pay tribute to these victims along with their loved ones, their families and all those who choose to join us,” he said. In the Gaza Strip, “the priority is a ceasefire,” he insisted, ensuring he regularly spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Macron has ‘no regrets’ over Depardieu affair

The President of the Republic confirmed that he “does not regret defending the presumption of innocence” of Gérard Depardieu, accused of rape and accused of sexual violence by several women. In December, the head of state condemned the “manhunt” for the actor, whom he said he was a “big fan of.” “If I have one regret, it’s that I didn’t say enough that women’s voices matter,” he nonetheless admitted.

“We can’t let Russia win” in Ukraine

Emmanuel Macron has calculated that we should not “let Russia win” in Ukraine “because the very security of Europe will be called into question.” This would be “an admission that the rules of international security can no longer be respected,” he continued, making this war “the main subject of mobilization.” The President also said that he himself would visit Ukraine in February.