Deprived of a large part of his influence since his camp lost the early legislative elections of the summer, the head of state also announced, in the traditional New Year’s Eve speech, that he would ask during the year that opens up for the French to “decide” on certain “determining issues” to prepare for the future. A way of giving a glimpse of referendums, mentioned many times but never organized since his arrival at the Elysée in 2017, or new citizens’ conventions after those on the end of life or ecology.
A chronicle: The total twilight of Emmanuel Macron
The eighth wishes, and the shortest
Recorded in the winter garden of the presidential palace, these eighth wishes from Emmanuel Macron are also the shortest, at eleven minutes. And for good reason: the president no longer has the means to decide everything as he used to do, and falls back on his role as “guarantor”, according to those around him.
He focused at length, at the start of his speech, on the successes of 2024. With an innovation in form: a two-minute video showing the Olympic Games or the reopening of Notre-Dame.
“Together, this year we have proven that impossible is not French,” he said. “Let us know how to keep the best of what we have been”, “united, determined, united”.
No “solutions for the French” after the elections
But Emmanuel Macron did not avoid the most serious political crisis of the Fifth Republic, with a clearer mea culpa than the one outlined at the beginning of December.
“I must recognize this evening that the dissolution has for the moment brought more divisions to the Assembly than solutions for the French,” he said. “Lucidity and humility require us to recognize that at this time, this decision has produced more instability than serenity. And I take my full share of it.” Although fractured, the current Assembly represents, according to him, “the country in its diversity and therefore also in its divisions”, and is “fully legitimate”.
“It is not enough to recognize one’s responsibility, we must draw all the political conclusions: leave,” responded immediately the coordinator of La France insoumise Manuel Bompard, while the leader of the LFI deputies Mathilde Panot mocked this “arrogant and authoritarian president” whom she wants to “succeed in removing”.
The quest for “good compromises”
Despite everything, the president calls on political forces to make 2025 the year of “collective recovery” in order to allow “stability” and “good compromises”. “Because we cannot afford to wait. The year 2025 must be a year of action,” urges the Head of State to the newly formed government of his ally François Bayrou, the fourth prime minister of the year, to whom he also addresses his “ wishes”.
Even if he can no longer set the tone for public policies, Emmanuel Macron shows that he does not intend to let the government damage its record.
He thus promised to “ensure” that France “continues to be attractive”, “works and innovates more”, continues to create jobs and “ensures its growth by maintaining its finances”. And this, while the country begins 2025 without a voted budget despite alarming deficits.
The new government: Finally prime minister, the eternal pope François Bayrou will try to last longer than Michel Barnier
A plea for an offensive EU
While the international and Europe remain presidential prerogatives, Emmanuel Macron also urged Europeans to “put an end to naivety” in matters of trade or agriculture.
“Say no to trade laws dictated by others and which we are the only ones to still respect. Say no to everything that makes us depend on others without compensation and without preparing our future,” he pleaded. “Conversely, we need a European awakening, a scientific, intellectual, technological, industrial awakening, an agricultural, energy and ecological awakening,” he added.
With these wishes, Emmanuel Macron hopes to place himself above all, and keep away the little music of some of his opponents who consider his resignation inevitable before the end of his mandate, in 2027.
The president of the deputies of the National Rally, Marine Le Pen, said in mid-December that she was preparing for an early presidential election. In her own wishes, she said on Tuesday that 2025 will be “a decisive year”, hoping for a “happy outcome” to governmental instability, which would involve a “democratic decision”.
The Rock of Sisyphus by François Bayrou
For his part, the new Prime Minister wished, at the end of a visit to Mayotte devastated by Cyclone Chido, a year of “reconciliation”, “action” and “stability” in the face of recent “fractures”. .
A challenge: lacking a majority in the Assembly, his team relies on the same fragile team between the macronie and the Les Républicains party which had supported the previous right-wing Prime Minister Michel Barnier, finally censored three months after his appointment. The Bayrou government therefore faces the same risk of being overthrown by left-wing and far-right deputies.
Our recent editorial: François Bayrou, the unifier who will try not to displease everyone
