A future without Russian gas, a request for less energy consumption, a return to nuclear and coal, an increase in the military budget and a labor reform in search of full employment. On the day of France, its president, Emmanuel Macron, took advantage of a televised interview to draw the paths of the future in the midst of the energy crisis that Europe is experiencing and in the heat of the conflict with Russia, a country that he accused of using gas as ” weapon of war”.
They are times of war. The NATO flag, the presence of 106 soldiers from nine Alliance countries and 125 representatives of the French troops. It’s July 14, Bastille Day and French National Day. The commemoration of the end of the absolute monarchy consists of a military parade presided over by Emmanuel Macron, and is also the opportunity for the French president to be interviewed on public television.
Macron, in his mandate, had only done so after the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. He repeats this year, in the face of a new global challenge, such as the end of dependence on Russian gas. It is also his first interview after being re-elected as head of state last April.
Here are five keys that Macron leaves after his interview and his final message on Twitter: “We are a strong country and we will achieve it”:
Nous sommes un pays fort et nous allons y arriver.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 14, 2022
1.- A “probable” end to dependence on Russian gas
The president wanted to draw the French a possible scenario of abandonment of Russian gas. “Russia uses energy, like food, as a weapon of war,” assured the head of state, who referred to the closure of the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline, suspended by Russia until July 21 for “maintenance” reasons.
The president said that the conflict in Ukraine is going to be long and that “the summer and the beginning of the fall will be very hard” ahead.
Faced with the contingency, it hopes to accumulate gas reserves “close to 100% by autumn”, increasing supplies from Norway, Qatar, Algeria and the United States.
With this perspective, Macron also advocated solidarity with its most needy partners, for which they are willing to “help countries that are more dependent (on Russian gas), such as Germany.”
2.- “Energy sobriety” and “war economy”
“We need to enter into a logic of moderation,” Macron said in the interview. Among the plans of the French Government is to reduce energy consumption by 10% in the next two years. A way to face, at the same time, scarcity and the challenges of the climate crisis.
He called for a collective effort, both from citizens and private companies, assuring that the Government will serve as an example “consuming less energy.”
France is one of the European countries that depends least on Russian gas, with only 17%. It has also received a lower impact from inflation with 5.9%, achieving a lower impact of the increase, in part, by establishing limits on the prices of electricity and gas. This measure will work until December. In the interview, Macron warned that it is exceptional and that in 2023 it will remain “only for those who need it most.”
3.- Resort to old energy “alternatives”
The break with Russia has caused European countries to return to old sources of energy generation. Macron, in the interview, said that he is going to invest more in the nuclear sector.
“Nuclear energy is a sustainable solution,” he said, “both for France and for other countries.”
This energy provides about 70% of the country’s electrical needs. It also announced that it will keep the country’s last two active coal mines open beyond the closing deadlines set at the beginning of the year.
These measures will be accompanied by the urgency of accelerating the transition to renewable energy, on which he said that “we have to go much faster.” He especially referred to offshore wind farms and emphasized the need for greater collaboration between countries.
4.- More investment in Defense
The conflict with Russia is changing geopolitics. France has the largest Army in Western Europe and its leader is committed to increasing the military budget, depending on the threats and the needs that arise.
“The defense budget will not decrease, on the contrary … we must reinvest in our stocks … we must be able to produce more ammunition and faster,” Macron said.
He also assured that he will continue to help Ukraine and that his goal is to end the war: “What do you want us to do?” she asked. “We want to stop this war without getting involved in this war. At the same time, we want to do everything possible so that Russia does not win, so that Ukraine can defend its territory. We don’t want a world war.”
5.- Objective: “full employment”
National politics also had a leading role in the televised interview. Emmanuel Macron won the presidential elections, but his party failed to revalidate the absolute majority in the Legislative. So he will have to negotiate with other formations to be able to carry out his projects.
One of them is labor reform. Macron said that he has asked Elisabeth Borne, prime minister, to be ready this summer and that the goal is “full employment”, reducing unemployment from 7 to 5%.
Another promise is to increase interns in companies from 750,000 to one million. While he stated that he hopes that by the summer of 2023 the retirement age will increase from 62 to 65 years.
However, it was not closed in band to modify this plan due to the strong opposition that it arouses among the population.
France 24 with EFE, Reuters and AP
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