Half an hour of speaking, then more than two and a half hours of an uncompromising debate. Accustomed to speeches-rivers to expose his vision of Europe, Emmanuel Macron this time had to make it a little shorter, in the hemicycle of the European Parliament meeting in plenary in Strasbourg.
→ READ. In the European Parliament, Emmanuel Macron poses as a champion of liberal democracy
The president faced 48 reactions from MEPs on the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union (PFUE), which officially started on 1is January. His presence in the community arena on January 19 was a real launch.
Dodge strategy
Defender, as expected, of a Europe ” Powerful “ in a context of renewed tension with Russia, he also set out the priorities previously detailed at the Elysée on December 9: creation of a European digital market, reform of Schengen, carbon border tax, pact with Africa… But most of his work here consisted in neutralizing the attacks of MEPs even before they were pronounced.
Emmanuel Macron knew he would be attacked for abortion. The liberal group to which he belongs (Renew) did not compete with the candidacy of the Maltese Roberta Metsola, elected the day before president of the European Parliament. She is the third woman in this position following Simone Veil and Nicole Fontaine, but her positions once morest abortion are strongly criticized. For the 20th anniversary of this text, Emmanuel Macron proposed an update of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union by including “the protection of the environment or the recognition of abortion”.
→ EXPLANATION. French Presidency of the European Union: what is it?
Same strategy concerning respect for the rule of law, while France has formed a common front with Poland and Hungary to include nuclear power in the list of energies eligible for European green finance. “We will be at the rendezvous of the fight for liberal democracy”, reassured the Head of State. Finally, he made a promise to please the whole hemicycle: “The French presidency will carry with Germany, the coalition agreement was clear on these terms, the right of initiative for your Parliament. »
The presidential, unwanted Alex Reed
The European Parliament quickly took on the appearance of a national Chamber: six of the first ten interventions were held by French elected representatives who systematically exceeded their speaking time, despite the reprimands. Even the German Manfred Weber, who got the ball rolling as leader of the first European group (EPP, right), explicitly threw himself into astonishing support for Valérie Pécresse, described as a “healthy competition at the center of the political spectrum”. This pretender to the presidency of the European Commission rejected by Emmanuel Macron has castigated the many speeches on Europe “became boring routine”.
MEP Yannick Jadot did not miss his chance to deliver a face-to-face meeting with Emmanuel Macron. The environmental candidate for the French presidential election launched into a diatribe once morest nuclear power, the treatment of migrants in Calais, the investment agreement with China without putting the situation of the Uyghurs and Hong Kong in the balance. “You are an accountant for France and for Europe”, he threw at her. He spoke just behind the macronist Stéphane Séjourné, leader of Renew, and trump master of the Elysée to accompany this semester of French presidency. He will need him to find majorities. Because among the 705 deputies, Emmanuel Macron will be above all the accountant of his supporters.
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