Paris (AFP)

With a steady decline in unemployment, Emmanuel Macron is determined to continue his reforms at the start of the school year with the perilous projects of pensions and the PMA for all, despite the anger he knows still alive in a small part of the country.

After three weeks discreet and "studious" at Fort Brégançon, the head of state made his pre-return Thursday by commemorating the landing in Provence alongside two African heads of state. A first official release punctuated by a call to mayors to give street names to African soldiers fallen for the Liberation and a long walk-in bath with a benevolent atmosphere.

Monday, he made his return on the international scene by receiving in Brégançon Russian President Vladimir Putin, to discuss the ongoing conflicts and issues - Syria, Libya, Iran, Ukraine. Prelude to the major diplomatic event of the quinquennium: the G7 Biarritz, where France receives August 24 and 25 the leaders of seven major world powers.

At the national level, next week will see both the Council of Ministers back Wednesday and the awakening of oppositions, which hold their summer universities (PS, EELV, LFI, PCF).

In finding his ministers, Emmanuel Macron should once again urge them to accelerate reforms while listening more to the French, its leitmotiv since the great debate.

With the shortness of the "yellow vests" this summer, the atmosphere is more lenient for the executive, still worn by the honorable score of the presidential list to European and popularity curves that go back.

The head of state can especially proud of a decline in unemployment in the second quarter to 8.5%, the lowest in ten years.

But he knows that the protest may flare up again. "I do not believe at all that what, at one time, creates the sincere anger of a part of the population is behind us," admitted Mr. Macron just after his arrival in the Var. Still called to order by the case Rugy, he avoided this summer any polemical gesture, choosing for a rare dinner as a tourist pizzeria.

Because the return promises to be full of pitfalls, with two explosive reforms. The draft law on bioethics, whose flagship measure, the extension of medically assisted procreation (PMA) to all women, must be examined in late September by the deputies.

- "Bad shot" -

If the majority argues the support of a few right-wing deputies and widespread popular approval, some in the Macronist ranks warn against a possible awakening of the conservative camp. At the time, La Manif's ability to gather for all had been largely underestimated.

Then the pension reform, presented at the beginning of the summer and which advocates a pivotal age of 64 for a full pension, unanimously rejected by the unions. The government has preferred to give itself time by opening a new phase of consultation and without setting a final date. The social partners will be received by Edouard Philippe on 5 and 6 September, while FO and CGT announced a mobilization on 21 and 24 September.

Finally, the reform of the civil service, promulgated in early August, that unions perceive as a "bad move". Its implementation must be presented on September 5th.

At seven months of the municipal, the action of the government will be under surveillance. The majority experienced some turmoil in late July when about 60 LREM MPs voted against or abstained on the free trade agreement between Europe and Canada (Ceta).

The text has also resurfaced a wave of hostility. About 30 LREM parliamentarians have been targeted this summer by farmers, environmental activists or "yellow vests".

They denounce in particular the contradictions of the government which displays ecology as a pillar of an "act II" of the quinquennium with fuzzy outlines.

After the good score of the European Greens, the theme should permeate the municipal campaign, already marked by several clashes between LREM and his ally Modem on investitures. In many cities, Paris and Lyon in the lead, the ballot will test two years of presidential, already in all heads.

© 2019 AFP