On the eve of the launch on Tuesday of the "great national debate" to calm social unrest, we know a little more about how to organize. Divided into four major themes, this consultation, which will last two months, promises to be dense.
Which topics are discussed?
As expected, the topics to be addressed during the consultation are divided into four main themes: taxes, expenditures and public action; the organization of the state and public authorities; the ecological transition; democracy, immigration and secularism. In a letter to the French published Sunday, Emmanuel Macron subdivided these topics into a big thirty questions: which taxes to lower in priority? Do we have migration quotas? Where to save? Should the white vote be recognized?
Who to animate the debates?
Initially, the consultation was to take place under the aegis of the national commission of public debate (CNDP) chaired by Chantal Jouanno. But it finally threw in the towel after a heated controversy over his salary, since doubled criticism on the quality and progress of the work of the CNDP.
The Elysee has appointed two members of the government to take charge of the animation of the debates. Emmanuelle Wargon, Secretary of State to the Minister of Ecological Transition, and Sébastien Lecornu, Minister in charge of Local Authorities, have to deal respectively with the place of civil society and elected representatives in this consultation. In addition to these two ministers, several independent personalities should be appointed to supervise in particular the lifts. And this, to ensure neutrality vis-à-vis the power.
How will the debates be organized?
The executive counts "on mayors and associations to implement this debate," said government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux. On Monday, the elected officials were given kits, entitled "My territory in cards", and which paint the socio-demographic portrait of each community of communes. There are therefore 1264 different, with each time the number of inhabitants, information on housing, the labor market, or digital coverage and the number of general practitioners. Tools on which the city officials will rely to organize the debates.
Emmanuel Macron also mentioned the possibility of debates being organized by "community leaders or ordinary citizens". An electronic platform has also been set up, at granddebat.fr.
How will Emmanuel Macron get involved?
The head of state will be Tuesday in the Eure, Grand Bourgtheroulde, to kick off the "great national debate". He will meet 600 elected and mayors of the region. Three days later, it is in the Lot that the president is expected. He should thus multiply the trips during the consultation, as well as Edward Philippe.
What will it lead to?
The end of the consultation period is scheduled for March 15th. Then, for a month, the feedback will be processed and decisions made in effect before the end of April. Those hoping for a referendum will be disappointed: in his letter to the French published Sunday, Emmanuel Macron dismissed this option. "This debate is an unprecedented initiative of which I am determined to draw all the conclusions," wrote the head of state. "This is neither an election nor a referendum."