Macron speaks to the nation

M. Macron spoke to all the French yesterday evening. Last week he reshuffled the government, appointing Gabriel Attal as Prime Minister. Attal is the youngest person to hold the role, at 34, and he appointed his cabinet of ministers gradually over the course of the week. In France the government is presidential, that is the people elect deputies to the National Assembly, Senators to the Senate*, and the President. So the President is not guaranteed a majority in the National Assembly. 

The President then appoints a Prime Minister and the Prime Minister appoints his government ministers. They can choose anyone. They don't have to be from the same political party or even from the National Assembly. However the Prime Minister is expected to do all he can to enact the promises that the President made during his election campaign.

Yesterday evening M. Macron made a direct broadcast to the nation. One newspaper said "to counter the rise of the far right". Another said "to upstage the Prime Minister". Another said "to consolidate his presidency". 

Whatever.

He announced various measures to tackle issues that French people have and also others that face France just now. These included :

> A new parental leave to encourage people to have children. This to combat falling fecundity in France.

> Measures to put controls on kids' use of screens.

> Extra classes in sport, in theatre and in the arts. France is seen as losing its culture.

> A trial of school uniforms with a possible national rollout in 2026.

> No more "imams détachés", muslim missionaries, typically sent from the Arabian Gulf

This alongside the current concerns such as the cost of living, the cost of energy, the transition to carbon-neutral, inflation, immigration and asylum, etc.

*I am not certain that Senators are directly elected. It is possible that they are appointed on merit and experience.

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