Interview with Emmanuel Macron: the almost impossible mission entrusted to Elisabeth Borne

Jacques Serais, edited by Gauthier Delomez 20:22 pm, March 22, 2023

The lease of Elisabeth Borne to Matignon seems to be extended: Emmanuel Macron renewed his confidence in his Prime Minister this Wednesday, during his television interview with TF1 and France 2. A statement that goes in the direction of remarks reported Tuesday, the president saying that there would be no dissolution of the National Assembly, no reshuffle, no referendum on the pension reform contested in the street. And on this occasion, the Head of State entrusted a mission that seems almost unachievable for his Prime Minister, in the current context.

>> READ ALSO – Pension reform: how Emmanuel Macron tries to remobilize his troops

Indeed, while it is weakened by the battle of pensions, Emmanuel Macron now asks it to work with the opposition. "The mandate I gave her is to continue to expand this majority as much as she can, with the women and men of good will who, right or left or on the side of ecology, are ready on the priorities and the government program that the Prime Minister will work, to move forward with her," slipped the president on Wednesday.

A call of the foot to the deputies Les Républicains

In reality, it is not a question of "government or coalition agreement", says Emmanuel Macron. This could be done "text by text", according to him. A barely veiled foot appeal to the forty LR deputies who did not vote the motion of censure. "They were not the totality of a party (to vote for the motion), that's why I say it's hard to build coalitions," said the head of state, continuing: "But, there are individuals who are ready to work with the forces of the majority."

However, the task promises to be perilous, especially since the president wants at the same time that there are "fewer pieces of legislation", that is to say to govern by decree. The first collateral effect that stems from this desire is the immigration bill that will finally be divided into shorter texts while it was supposed to be debated in the Senate next week. Finally, the examination in Parliament is postponed, as if Elisabeth Borne's mandate was already on probation.

>> Find Europe Soir in replay and podcast here

The Prime Minister "will conduct consultations with political forces" to "define the parliamentary calendar for the coming months and identify majorities text by text", but no timetable has yet been defined.