Arthur De Laborde 09:28, July 07, 2022

Nearly two months after her appointment to Matignon, Elisabeth Borne delivered her general policy speech to the Assembly on Wednesday.

A speech of an hour and a half which did not engage the responsibility of the government since it was not followed by a vote of confidence.

Elisabeth Borne's speech was eagerly awaited, and the Prime Minister generally succeeded in the exercise.

She did not allow herself to be destabilized, in front of an agitated hemicycle She first called for building compromises with the oppositions for she said that "relative majority" does not mean "relative action".

This new method will be tested in the first place to respond to the first challenge of the government, the urgency of purchasing power, explained the Prime Minister.

"Radical" transformations to fight the climate emergency

Elisabeth Borne then tackled a much more divisive subject: the ultra-sensitive issue of pension reform.

"Yes, we will have to work gradually a little longer," she said.

Another hot topic: the climate emergency.

Elisabeth Borne did not hesitate to take up the concept of radicalism.

"We will undertake radical transformations in the ways of producing, of housing, of moving around, of consuming," said the Prime Minister. 

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'No tax hike'

Elisabeth Borne also repeated her support for the nuclear industry, announcing in passing her desire to nationalize EDF.

These promises have already been made by Emmanuel Macron on the various files, like this slogan hammered out by the former prefect: "No tax increase".

"We have to stop believing that for every challenge, the solution is a tax. So, no tax increases," she argues. 

Elisabeth Borne therefore took care to send winks from both sides of the hemicycle on the left and on the right.

Because it will need opposition to implement its policy, which at this stage it is far from won.