President Emmanuel Macron outlines plans to boost France's popularity internationally.
ADVERTISEMENTWith polls suggesting his popularity on a national level is in freefall, Emmanuel Macron has outlined plans he hopes will make France a “great power” on the international stage.
In his first major interview, the French president told weekly news magazine Le Point that he wanted “Europe to be a continent of equal power to the US and China.”
He once again reiterated his desire to provide the euro zone with a common budget to give it the power to borrow on a large scale in the markets.
On a national level, he promised a “profound transformation,” particularly concerning his proposed overhaul of France’s labour laws.
But the plan to loosen regulations and boost the economy has been hotly contested by trade unions and left-wing parties which say workers’ rights would be all but abolished.
While outwardly life at the Elysée Palace appears calm, turbulent times could lie ahead, with France’s employers’ federation predicting the labour reform will make or break Macron’s presidency.