The newly re-elected president of France, centrist Emmanuel Macron, took over his second term, which formally begins on May 13, during a ceremony at the Élysée Palace, in the capital Paris, on Saturday morning (7).
The French leader, who defeated the far right at the polls and now finds himself challenged by the left in the legislature, highlighted in his speech promises of “a new method” of governing and of a “more livable planet” for future generations, in a nod to the climate emergency, one of the themes raised as a flag in his first government.
In all, the speech lasted 10 minutes. Macron listed those that were some of his main management challenges: the return of a war to Europe, the Covid pandemic and climate change. He also enumerated more direct issues in the life of the citizen: the fight against inequalities, the guarantee of jobs and the improvement of the health system.
The first French leader re-elected also highlighted the commitment to work for a more independent France. “To act tirelessly with the aim of living better and building French and European responses to the challenges of our century,” said Macron, who has sought to take a leading role in diplomatic negotiations in the Ukrainian War since before the start of the conflict.
In references – some indirect – to the war in Eastern Europe, the leader spoke about the “gravity of the times” and said that it is precisely in the midst of this that France reveals its best: “It is when the wind of tragedy blows that we find the strength to rise above ourselves to write history in universal ink.”
On the climate crisis, he said that the objective is to bequeath another, more habitable planet to children and young people. “We are at the moment when the century is changing and when, in the great planetary disorder, we have to forge another path together”, he said.
About 450 guests attended the inauguration ceremony of the centrist leader, during which the president of the French Constitutional Council, Laurent Fabius, proclaimed his victory in the second round, held on April 24, by 58.55% of the votes against the far-right candidate. Marine Le Pen, from the National Reunion.
Macron’s predecessors were present, such as the republican Nicolas Sarkozy (2007-2012) – who declared support for Macron in the second round, generating speculations about a possible partisan rapprochement between the two – and the socialist François Hollande (2012-2017), whose Macron was Assistant Secretary General of the Presidency.
Hollande, who also supported the centrist in the second round, told reporters after the ceremony that Macron could not afford to reproduce “yesterday’s methods”. “What we noticed in this election was that there are more citizens [que votaram] out of rejection, and not out of hope”, he said, in relation to the useful vote deposited in the polls by part of the population that might not be so favorable to the president, but also completely rejected the idea of Le Pen in office.
After greeting the guests, including health professionals, local authorities, association leaders and athletes, the French leader went to the courtyard of the Élysée Palace to accompany the Marseillaise, the national anthem of France. As tradition dictates, 21 cannon shots were fired from the Esplanada dos Invalidos.
There is still little clarity on the formation of the government. The Élysée Palace said in a statement that the president did not offer the post of prime minister to anyone. The current prime minister, Jean Castex, remains in office for the time being.
Macron will participate this Sunday (8) in ceremonies marking the anniversary of the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. He is due to deliver a speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Monday (9), before traveling to Berlin, where he will meet German Prime Minister Olaf Scholz on his first trip abroad since re-election.
