Crucial day for the Prime Minister. Gabriel Attal delivers his general policy declaration on Tuesday, January 30: he must present his program for the middle classes and discuss the ecological transition, a balancing act at a time when thousands of farmers are blocking the roads, particularly around Paris .
This speech before the National Assembly, which all Prime Ministers give even if they are not obliged to do so, allows a head of government to stamp his style, to present his method.
However, that of Gabriel Attal, based on "action" and "results", with a lot of travel in the field, is already being tested by farmers, who consider his first measures insufficient and continue to block the roads, including access to the capital.
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In the region, “visible but non-violent actions” by farmers should accompany his speech which he will give from 3 p.m., a police source indicated Monday evening.
The government is trying to calm the revolt and promises "new measures" on Tuesday, after a second meeting Monday evening in Matignon between Gabriel Attal and representatives of the FNSEA and Young Farmers (JA).
The battle will also be fought at the European level. Emmanuel Macron will discuss this crisis on Thursday in Brussels with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. They are expected to talk about the trade agreement being negotiated between the EU and Mercosur, fallows imposed on farmers and imports of Ukrainian products into the European Union.
Talking to the middle classes
The pressure from the oppositions is intense as the European elections approach. Raphaël Glucksmann, likely head of the Socialist Party list, judged "legitimate" the anger of farmers whose situation is "first and foremost linked to unjust public policies", advocating "European ecological protectionism".
The president and head of the National Rally list Jordan Bardella, favorite in the June 9 vote, called on Emmanuel Macron to defend French farmers against "German cars" in the negotiations between the EU and Mercosur.
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Beyond the farmers, whose "passion" and "commitment" he praised and whom he associates with the "French identity", Gabriel Attal will try to meet the expectations of the middle classes, "those who cannot count only about their job and have the feeling of receiving nothing in return. He will talk to them about “authority”, “work”, but also about “public services” such as education and health.
Despite the agricultural crisis, he will try to address ecology, accused of being the poor relation of the new government. For the Prime Minister, it is a question of "getting out of the sterile debates between growth and climate" and building "a new model of growth, because ecology creates jobs", according to Gabriel Attal.
But the political context remains unchanged: the young Prime Minister is deprived, like his predecessor Élisabeth Borne, of an absolute majority in the Assembly.
Lack of vote of confidence
After his speech, the left, united for the occasion, promised to table the first motion of censure against the government – which has little chance of being adopted without the right. The objective is to protest against Gabriel Attal's choice not to seek a vote of confidence.
In this regard, the independent Liot deputies will table a constitutional bill aimed at forcing prime ministers to submit to such a vote within ten days after the appointment of the government.
Wind up against the announced increases in medical deductibles and electricity prices, the oppositions believe that Emmanuel Macron has largely reduced the room for maneuver of his new head of government by detailing future measures during his press conference on January 17.
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The Head of State had increased the number of announcements for "a fairer and stronger France" around his concept of "rearmament", emphasizing young people with the return of uniforms to schools and the regulation of screens. But he had not specified the outlines of new economic and social reforms, which Gabriel Attal could detail.
The Prime Minister will speak to a tight government of 14 members, pending the appointment of delegate ministers and secretaries of state, planned for this week.
Like Élisabeth Borne, and out of respect for the senators, he will go to the Upper House on Wednesday to deliver a dedicated speech.
With AFP
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