French President Emmanuel Macaron on Monday unveiled a series of measures he plans to take to respond to political, social and economic demands by protesters from the Yellow Belt movement who have been demonstrating across the country for five months.
The French president is aware that the stakes are great, and he has to convince his citizens of these measures in order not to threaten the rest of his term.
The French president is speaking on television to unveil the "priority workshops and the first concrete measures," the Elysee Palace announced on Sunday evening.
However, things will not end there as he will make a new announcement on Wednesday and "explain in detail" the major workshops during a press conference at the Elysee Palace, the first since the beginning of 2017.
In mid-January, Macaron launched the "Great National Debate", an unprecedented formula in the country, aimed at defusing the worst crisis since he came to power - the "yellow jackets" protesting since mid-November on his tax and social policies.
McCron participated in these discussions across the country and talked for hours, but without knowing the results, and likely because the options are not yet identified. On 9 April, nothing had been resolved, one of his confidants said. "He is a president who often decides things at the last minute," he said.
The only sign on Sunday was that the source pointed to "fundamental changes to be launched", but other sources indicated that "nothing should be expected" from Monday´s speech.
Emmanuel Macaron used the same method of anticipation on December 10 and at the last minute told a small group of his aides his plan to spend 10 billion euros to calm social outrage. His ministers knew the details of the plan on television.
This time, 24 hours before his speech, a source close to him confirmed that "what he will say is ready" and informed his government in advance. On Sunday evening, he received Prime Minister Edward Philippe and his most prominent ministers.
The expectations of the majority of the French from discussions across the country are not great in resolving the crisis as polls show. Protesters announced a new demonstration Saturday and Saturday in Paris.
According to an opinion poll published by the Institute of Evop Sunday, 85% of the French consider that Emmanuel Macaron must divert his attention to address their concerns.
But Macaron "will not have a second chance," warned Senate President Gerard Larcher (right).
Therefore, the pressure on the president is very great during this television talk, which aims to give his mandate a new impetus.
Since last summer, judicial issues in his circles, the resignations of first-class ministers and protests by the "yellow jackets" have undermined his performance and the "transformation" of the country he was elected to.
