Paris (AFP)

Emmanuel Macron received about two thousand mayors Wednesday evening at the Elysee, continuing his offensive to win back local elected officials, the day after a speech before the Congress of mayors of France freshly received.

Arrived at 17:00 at the presidential palace, elected officials heard a few words of welcome from the president of the Association of Mayors of France, François Baroin, before a short speech by the head of state.

This is the first time since his election that Emmanuel Macron gives the floor to François Baroin in the village hall of the Elysee.

"I believe very deeply in this alliance" with elected officials, said the head of state who had spoken for over an hour Tuesday before the mayors.

"What we do together is to remember the rights and duties of everyone and also set the course and build concrete action every day to build the great power of the twenty-first century that France must be", a- he continued.

Emmanuel Macron called the mayors to take up the challenge of building with him "a strong Republic, that is to say which protects", "an economic power", "social and solidarity", "ecological" and "European".

"There will inevitably be moments of disagreement, things that will have to be corrected, but I think I can say that basically, the course is shared, the will is the same: that of having a strong Republic", "of to restore confidence to our fellow citizens, to rebuild the nation, to re-establish these links wherever they are needed, "he added.

Emmanuel Macron announced that he intends to perpetuate "this tradition" to receive, as he had done last year, some 2,000 mayors at the Elysee Palace at their annual congress.

"You will always have me with you by your side, as are members of the government, the National Assembly, the Senate, count on us," he concluded. The head of state then began informal exchanges, scheduled to last two hours, with his guests.

He paid tribute on Tuesday to the role of the mayors he had launched: "Nothing will be done without you", to turn the page of the first two years of cold with the city, before the Great debate that has placed in the center of his action policy.

This reception at the Elysee Palace will be his last opportunity to meet so many local representatives together, four months of municipal elections.

© 2019 AFP