First modification:
Three weeks before the presidential elections in France, President Emmanuel Macron, candidate for a new term, presented this Thursday, March 17, during a press conference of more than an hour, “the central lines” of the project that he would like to propose to his compatriots, for the next five years. Here, the main measures presented by the French head of state.
Before presenting his proposals to the nearly 320 journalists who came to listen to him, Emmanuel Macron, whose mandate has been constantly shaken by crises: the yellow vests, the demonstrations related to the pension reform, the Covid-19, and recently the war in Ukraine, specified that his plan for France is based on a conviction that emerges precisely from all this: trying to make his country “a more independent nation in a stronger Europe”.
In the field of defense, Emmanuel Macron stated that his project came at a time when the “tragedy” was returning to “history”, alluding to the Russian offensive against Ukraine.
The French president said he wanted more independence for his country, which he said could be achieved with more investment in military spending.
For this reason, the army budget will be increased to reach 50,000 million euros between now and 2025; paying “attention to the country’s capabilities in the face of hybrid conflicts and a high-intensity war that could return to the continent.”
In addition to independence in terms of the country’s defense capabilities, the French head of state also spoke of “agricultural, industrial and creative independence.” Macron said that he wanted to make the renewal of generations in the agricultural sector a priority, through training and especially support for young farmers.
In addition, he announced that 30,000 million euros will be invested in the “industrial sectors of the future”.
- energy independence
The independence that Macron says he seeks to increase France’s sovereignty must also be achieved, according to him, at an energy level.
The country is committed to a carbon neutrality strategy for 2050, which the head of state says he wants to carry out.
As for the projects related to energy production, Macron presented several objectives between now and 2050: France will commit to the construction of six nuclear reactors and an immediate study of another eight reactors. Solar energy will be multiplied by ten and 50 wind farms will be built in the sea.
- Employment and pension reform
Buoyed by falling unemployment since 2017, the outgoing president also announced that he would aim for full employment for the next five years.
Macron also plans to gradually raise the retirement age to 65, but noted that this reform would take into account long careers, disability issues and the reality of professions.
In a letter announcing his candidacy, Emmanuel Macron had already expressed his wish that the French “work harder”. This postponement of the legal retirement age would be one of the priority reforms of his next five-year term, if he is re-elected. Currently, in France, the retirement age is 62 years.
The French head of state also wants to increase the autonomy of universities and schools. On August 10, 2007, the then French government enacted a law on the freedoms and responsibilities of universities to progressively transfer control of their budgets and human resources, which until then was the responsibility of the State, to universities.
But from the first years difficulties arose, since some institutions presented deficits. Critics of the autonomy of educational structures also denounce a law with a liberal conception and the separation from the State.
Macron added that, in addition to education, health will be an important area of work for his government if he is re-elected. The president plans to “reinforce prevention policy, simplify hospital governance and improve access to emergency care.”
The application of a more restrictive asylum policy is also included in the program of the president-candidate. Macron has stated that any asylum seeker will be required to leave the country immediately if their application is rejected by France.
- The Euthanasia Debate
The candidate announced that, if the French elect him president, he would create a citizens’ convention to settle the “end of life” debate, with also a referendum on what this convention will recommend.
#main #proposals #outgoing #President #Emmanuel #Macron #revealed #press #conference