Emmanuel Macron is facing a pension reform vacuum

The images revolved around the loops of power traumatized by the Yellow Vests. In Dijon, four models representing Emmanuel Macron, Élisabeth Bourne, Labor Minister Olivier Dusaupt and government spokesman Olivier Verand were sprayed and then set on fire on Thursday 16 March. On the same day, in Rennes, stones were thrown, tagged Lyon. “He killed my father”, “Macron is dying”, “The Power of the People”… In Paris, on the Place de la Concorde, the police with tear gas in their hands, gassed the front line of the protesters. The same scenes on Friday evening, March 17, with tensions high ahead of the weekend. After the explosion of the pension reform 49.3, Élysée and Matignon saw only political and social consequences.

A rough majority on one side, radicalized protesters on the other… There is an atmosphere of extreme vigilance around the head of state. As of Friday morning, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin gave instructions to prefects: to monitor demonstrations, to avoid “zadization” of places, to protect the symbols of the Republic, to pay attention to blocking roads and. Power outages, power outages… Police should also call MPs to find out if they need protection. “It’s hard to know how this will play out.”The government advisor summarizes.

It is also difficult to know whether Emmanuel Macron will find a way out of this political impasse. And if he can cancel the five-year term, the main reform of which will undoubtedly be passed with forceps, against public opinion, against the unions and without a vote in the National Assembly. According to several close people, the President of the Republic does not “No scruples, no regrets”. He didn’t want 49.3, but he had to give up himself, they repeat. confronted “Two Bad Choices”He felt that defeat in the National Assembly would be more damaging than this vertical act. “He understands very well that this is a Pyrrhic victory”sums up his entourage. “He tried not to use it until the endargues David Amiel, a Renaissance deputy in Paris and a former counselor at the Elysée. He made a choice based on the interests of the country, not political interest. »

Changing the Prime Minister?

Leaving his prime minister at the helm ahead of a vote on the censure proposals on Monday, March 20, Mr Macron also knows he must regain control quickly. On Thursday evening, he and his entourage began to think about a speech at the end of the parliamentary session, if the social climate does not deteriorate by then.