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| Emmanuel Macron claims in TV interview: 'I am not cut off' | Emmanuel Macron claims in TV interview: 'I am not cut off' |
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| The French president, Emmanuel Macron, angrily denied he was cut off from real life or held working-class people in disdain in his first live primetime interview after five months in power. | The French president, Emmanuel Macron, angrily denied he was cut off from real life or held working-class people in disdain in his first live primetime interview after five months in power. |
| Macron appeared on TV on Sunday night as he tried to counter the damaging image that he is a president for the rich who cares more about the wealthy than the struggling. | Macron appeared on TV on Sunday night as he tried to counter the damaging image that he is a president for the rich who cares more about the wealthy than the struggling. |
| He denied there was a divide in France between the more globalised residents of large cities who voted for him in large numbers and those in more deprived areas away from urban centres who felt left behind. | He denied there was a divide in France between the more globalised residents of large cities who voted for him in large numbers and those in more deprived areas away from urban centres who felt left behind. |
| He rejected criticisms about his recent choice of words when he said he would face down “slackers” who opposed his labour law reform, or dismissed protesting workers as kicking up “chaos” and said he had no disdain for the working class and had not sought to “humiliate”. He added: “I was elected for every French person to have a life that is dignified and free. I have always opted to tell things as they are and to get close to the truth, so I name things.” He said he wanted to speak freely, warning “our elites are used to a sterilised public discourse”. | He rejected criticisms about his recent choice of words when he said he would face down “slackers” who opposed his labour law reform, or dismissed protesting workers as kicking up “chaos” and said he had no disdain for the working class and had not sought to “humiliate”. He added: “I was elected for every French person to have a life that is dignified and free. I have always opted to tell things as they are and to get close to the truth, so I name things.” He said he wanted to speak freely, warning “our elites are used to a sterilised public discourse”. |
| The pro-business centrist who beat the far-right Marine Le Pen to win the presidency in May had until now shied away from traditional French presidential TV appearances. Instead, he has preferred giving lofty, lengthy speeches – typically on the future of the European Union — punctuated by the occasional outburst on public walkabouts. | The pro-business centrist who beat the far-right Marine Le Pen to win the presidency in May had until now shied away from traditional French presidential TV appearances. Instead, he has preferred giving lofty, lengthy speeches – typically on the future of the European Union — punctuated by the occasional outburst on public walkabouts. |
| But after Macron’s approval polls ratings fell this summer and then stabilised in recent weeks, the young president sought to address those voters who were struggling to understand the real meaning and implications of his political project and the nature of “macronism”, which purports to be both left and rightwing at the same time. | But after Macron’s approval polls ratings fell this summer and then stabilised in recent weeks, the young president sought to address those voters who were struggling to understand the real meaning and implications of his political project and the nature of “macronism”, which purports to be both left and rightwing at the same time. |
| The 39-year-old president was under pressure to set out what his proposed “radical transformation of France” would mean for typical households in the next five years. He insisted that his loosening of labour laws in favour of businesses did not equate to a “hyper free-market” transformation” that would destroy rights, but that it would help all workers. | The 39-year-old president was under pressure to set out what his proposed “radical transformation of France” would mean for typical households in the next five years. He insisted that his loosening of labour laws in favour of businesses did not equate to a “hyper free-market” transformation” that would destroy rights, but that it would help all workers. |
| Macron’s current challenge is not political. In political terms, he is comfortable: his young party, La République en Marche, dominates parliament, opposition is fragmented and Macron has managed to swiftly deliver key manifesto promises, namely pushing through labour law changes. | Macron’s current challenge is not political. In political terms, he is comfortable: his young party, La République en Marche, dominates parliament, opposition is fragmented and Macron has managed to swiftly deliver key manifesto promises, namely pushing through labour law changes. |
| Instead, Macron’s issue is his personal image. Like all powerful French presidents before him, he is under scrutiny over his own personal style. | Instead, Macron’s issue is his personal image. Like all powerful French presidents before him, he is under scrutiny over his own personal style. |
| Certain of Macron’s policies, such as watering down France’s deeply symbolic wealth tax by applying it only to property, led to him being labelled “president of the rich” – a negative tag that previously damaged the rightwing Nicolas Sarkozy. | Certain of Macron’s policies, such as watering down France’s deeply symbolic wealth tax by applying it only to property, led to him being labelled “president of the rich” – a negative tag that previously damaged the rightwing Nicolas Sarkozy. |
| The privately educated former investment banker has also recently been attacked over comments that were seen, particularly on the left, as showing that he was cut off from real life. When a row erupted over his cuts to housing benefits, Macron suggested that if asked nicely, landlords might lower their rents. Critics slammed him for pie-in-the-sky notions. | The privately educated former investment banker has also recently been attacked over comments that were seen, particularly on the left, as showing that he was cut off from real life. When a row erupted over his cuts to housing benefits, Macron suggested that if asked nicely, landlords might lower their rents. Critics slammed him for pie-in-the-sky notions. |
| When another row erupted this month over Macron allegedly disparaging striking workers, he was criticised for suggesting offhand that workers in danger of losing their jobs could simply travel 140km for work somewhere else. | When another row erupted this month over Macron allegedly disparaging striking workers, he was criticised for suggesting offhand that workers in danger of losing their jobs could simply travel 140km for work somewhere else. |
| Macron’s key aim with Sunday night’s TV appearance was to convince the public of the next phase in what he promises will be a “profound transformation” of France. After overhauling labour laws, his next focus is the unemployment benefits system. He has argued that pro-business changes can also bring better protections for French people. While his poll ratings are better on the right, he wants to win back left-wing voters who backed him in the presidential race but are now turning away. | Macron’s key aim with Sunday night’s TV appearance was to convince the public of the next phase in what he promises will be a “profound transformation” of France. After overhauling labour laws, his next focus is the unemployment benefits system. He has argued that pro-business changes can also bring better protections for French people. While his poll ratings are better on the right, he wants to win back left-wing voters who backed him in the presidential race but are now turning away. |
| Macron is trying to shed the label he set out for himself before the election – that he could be like Jupiter, the Roman god of gods, a lofty figure speaking little in public. This notion of distance from the fray was modelled on previous presidents Charles de Gaulle and François Mitterrand, but he is now seeking to prove he is not deliberately cutting himself off. | Macron is trying to shed the label he set out for himself before the election – that he could be like Jupiter, the Roman god of gods, a lofty figure speaking little in public. This notion of distance from the fray was modelled on previous presidents Charles de Gaulle and François Mitterrand, but he is now seeking to prove he is not deliberately cutting himself off. |
| “When I am with French people, I am not aloof because I belong to them,” he told the German magazine Der Spiegel this weekend, adding that he was not “arrogant” but “determined”. |