More than four months after his re-election, French President Emmanuel Macron is trying to find his way back to his earlier reforms.

However, as in Germany, the energy crisis is currently dominating the political debate in France as well.

Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne tried to calm things down this week.

However, she did not rule out “cuts” for large industrial consumers.

Discussions were ongoing with the companies.

Niklas Zaboji

Economic correspondent in Paris

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The gas storage facilities are now 92 percent full, cost-cutting measures are being implemented everywhere and France has four LNG terminals.

The worries about the power supply are hardly less.

According to the Prime Minister, private households must be prepared for interruptions here.

Borne announced "rotating load shedding" lasting up to two hours, which could be carried out in individual districts in very cold temperatures.

Setting the course for the "ecological transition".

However, she emphasized that preparing for such extreme scenarios is nothing new.

In addition, “sensitive consumers” are identified beforehand so that no one with medical equipment is unplugged.

Every third Frenchman heats with electricity, which has been supplied primarily by large nuclear power plants for decades.

However, due to maintenance work, cracked pipes and drought-related cooling problems, it is currently running on the back burner.

Of 56 reactors, only 21 were producing electricity at full capacity on Friday.

If Macron has his way, energy policy should not be all about managing the acute crisis.

Rather, the course for the "ecological transition" should now be set across the board.

Against the backdrop of the hot and dry summer, Borne called it the "first battle" for the coming weeks and months.

The Prime Minister announced an "Action Plan" for France to reduce and adapt to climate change "sector by sector, region by region".

On the power generation side, the government is turning its attention to nuclear power after Macron announced plans to build up to 14 reactors in the spring, but also to wind, solar and biomass.

An immediate program for the rapid expansion of renewables was announced before the summer break.

Modernization of unemployment insurance planned

Other "battles" that the government intends to wage in the near future, according to the Prime Minister, include the pursuit of full employment, "sovereignty" in numerous policy areas and equal opportunities.

In terms of economic policy, the former holds the greatest explosive potential.

After the labor market reforms of his first term, Macron now wants to comprehensively modernize unemployment insurance.

Their reference, currently up to 36 months, is to be tightened in the case of an acute shortage of skilled workers as is currently the case and relaxed in the event of minor bottlenecks.

This should increase the incentive to work.

France's employment rate, albeit at a record high, is still well below Germany's (68 versus 77 percent).

But Macron expects resistance before the project is even discussed in the “Council for the Re-establishment” scheduled for next week.

The largest trade union, the CFDT, does not believe in cyclical unemployment benefits, and the opposition parties recently announced that they would not even take part in the council, but wanted to bring the debate to parliament.

Macron's party has not had a majority there since June.

In the Prime Minister's most recent statement, the plan to modernize France's deficit pension system did not even appear - although the reform was supposed to come into force next year.

The employers' association Medef does not believe that anything will come of it and prefers to concentrate on reforming unemployment insurance.