French President Emmanuel Macron was “sworn in” on Saturday to act to leave “a more viable planet” and “a more vibrant, stronger France” at the end of his second term, which will begin in a few days, in a ceremony sober, but highly symbolic investiture.
The awareness of the gravity of the times haunts mehe said at the beginning of his speech in the village hall of the Élysée Palace in front of about 450 guests, mentioning that right in front of him was the President of the Constitutional Council Laurent Fabius, who had just finished his official investiture, the war in Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate emergency.
The Head of State stressed the need toact relentlessly for France and for Europe, and to build a new European peace and a new autonomy on our continent.
The investiture is characterized by its modesty, as have previous re -elected presidents, François Mitterrand and Jacques Chirac.
Attending were the predecessors of Emmanuel Macron, Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande, his family, including his wife Brigitte, his friends, members of the government, his current prime minister, Jean Castex, and former, Édouard Philippe, as well. who are also the main officials of the two chambers of Parliament, consisting and intermediate bodies, academia, unions, etc.
This ceremony is an extension of a quasi-monarchical ritual, it is usually a kind of coronation of the republican monarchexplained to AFP historian Jean Garrigues.
The Head of State greeted the guests, including guardians, local elected officials, association leaders, athletes, highlighting the stated priorities of the new five-year term, including the Paris Olympics in 2024, but as well as Samuel Paty’s parents, beheaded by the teacher. in October 2020 of a jihadist, or the widow of the first doctor to die in COVID-19.
He then went out into the park to check the troops to the sound of Marseillaise, but also of the piece Land and sea Bagad de Lann-Bihoué, has already played under his mandate as a tribute to the soldiers killed in the operation in the Sahel.
The presence of 160 soldiers is related to the context of the war in Ukraine, but also to Emmanuel Macron’s concept of the importance of the French army and the role of the President of the Republic as leader of the armed forces.underlined Jean Garrigues.
According to tradition, 21 cannon shots were fired from the Esplanade des Invalides.
Mr. Macron, the liberal centrist who was re -elected on April 24 against the far -right candidate Marine Le Pen, with 58.55% of the vote, called for invent a new way, away from tired rituals and choreography to manage in planning, innovation, coordination more than his countrymen.
His socialist predecessor François Hollande was pleased to have him admitted the need for change in its use of power. Yesterday’s procedures cannot be reproduced for the open season, not only because it will be very difficult, but because France is very divided.he told reporters.
In search of the prime minister
However, the new five -year term will not officially begin until May 14. The appointment of the new Prime Minister should take place only afterwards, as legislative elections are set to take place a month later.
The apparent difficulties in finding the ideal personality fuel speculation, although the Élysée ensures that the president did not offer the position of prime minister to anyone.
Former chief of staff of Socialist Prime Minister Manuel Valls, Véronique Bédague, current managing director of real estate group Nexity, reportedly rejected the offer, as did Socialist MP Valérie Rabault, who indicated she was approached and refused so as not to not to bring the project into retirement at 65 years.
Jean Garrigues sees a series of major difficulties for Mr. Macron in this way.
He mentioned in particular the broken political landscapewhere he faces, without true party culture within his band, which replaced its own Renaissance, and the very nature of its political position, right and left.
You cannot simultaneously create a new party called the Renaissance and return the horses to the head of governmenthe concludes.
Mr. Macron is expected on Monday, Europe Day, in Strasbourg, where he will deliver a speech to the European Parliament, before heading to Berlin to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, his first trip abroad since his re -election.
Source: Radio-Canada
