Jacques Serais 1:50 p.m., September 08, 2022, modified at 1:50 p.m., September 08, 2022

The announcement of the National Reform Council caused a stir within the political class.

Emmanuel Macron announced this Thursday the launch of a "very broad national consultation" online and on the ground to put the French "within the great choices of the nation".

But among the participants, skepticism is in order.

With the National Council for Refoundation (CNR), Emmanuel Macron wants The president of Medef, Geoffroy Roux de Bézieux referred to a comedy: "It's like in The truth if I lie, I give the product a chance."

The mayor of Nantes and president of the urban France association, Johanna Rolland, says she is questioning.

"We have chosen to be present to contribute to the substantive work, if it is indeed substantive work and not a communication operation."

The launch of the CNR did not cause overwhelming enthusiasm here in Marcoussis.

Above all, the absences of the leaders of the opposition parties and the boycott of the President of the Senate, Gérard Larcher, are on everyone's mind.

Emmanuel Macron answered it before the opening of the meeting.

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"When you're not there, you shouldn't explain afterwards that you weren't consulted or that it's too vertical, too this, or too that. The formula of common sense says that the absent have always wrong. That goes for today too."

A first meeting behind closed doors

The Head of State is determined that his new method will have concrete outlets.

"The Constitution provides for the President of the Republic the possibility of bringing proposals, texts to the referendum", added Emmanuel Macron.

“If the process we are launching today can flow on that, we will.”

But we are still far from it.

This first meeting, which takes place behind closed doors outside on a synthetic pitch at the National Rugby Center, will continue until at least 6 p.m.