He will not address the French this Friday. Emmanuel Macron confirmed his decision not to speak on July 14, 2023 and announced that he will speak in the following days. The Head of State, who has just returned from the NATO summit in Vilnius in Lithuania, finally chooses to temporize while the date of “100 days” after his speech last April, which was to make it possible to appease the social situation in the country, fast approaching.
As BFMTV points out, in the past, the president has never really been used to speaking on July 14. He only took part twice. A first time in 2020, a few months after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and in 2022, to try to launch its second five-year term.
What if everything was calculated? The head of state continues to defend himself, explaining that, for him, the date of the 100 days has never really been specified to the French. “I don’t usually put off things that aren’t scheduled. And then, I think I’ve done July 14 interviews twice, so you’ll give me some freedom with this practice,” explains Emmanuel Macron.
However, the date of July 14 had been mentioned beforehand by the executive himself. “I said that I would make a point around July 14, but I gave neither the date nor the form and I will give this information in due course”, he continues.
This announcement comes in a context of social tension, while various elected officials and ministers fear clashes during this national holiday 2023. Particularly affected by the riots linked to the death of Nahel, the Île-de-France region has already postponed, and even canceled many festivities originally planned. Several measures have been taken in response to this sensitive period. For its part, the executive also preferred to play the card of caution by prohibiting “the sale, port, transport and use of pyrotechnic articles and fireworks throughout the national territory.”
Could Emmanuel Macron’s late speech be accompanied by announcements or a cabinet reshuffle? The renewal of the government team does not seem to be one of the priorities, according to a committee chairman at the Assembly for L’Opinion, “for the average Frenchman, changing ministers who do not print, this does not really isn’t the point.” From now on, the official end of the 100 days leaves time for reflection to Emmanuel Macron to choose his words and make his decisions, potentially heavy with consequences.