After reindustrialization, Emmanuel Macron on the offensive on sovereignty

Emmanuel Macron restarts his steamroller. One month after having tried to saturate the media space with a long series of trips devoted to the reindustrialization of the country and its renewed attractiveness for foreign investors, the President of the Republic embarks on Tuesday in a new sequence, this one devoted to sovereignty. Or at least how the head of state wants to go about trying to win her back.

The Covid health crisis had highlighted the country’s dependence on China for the production of medicines, masks but also basic necessities. In the process, the post-Covid recovery highlighted France’s dependence in the supply of semiconductors, in particular.

Finally, the war in Ukraine underlined its energy dependence on foreign countries, while the majority of nuclear power plants were shut down for maintenance. Hence the offensive in the form of a triptych that Emmanuel Macron is deploying from Tuesday.

Read alsoEmmanuel Macron claims success on reindustrialization

Shortages of paracetamol during the pandemic

First, a trip to Ardèche to talk about health sovereignty. Today, France depends up to 60% to 80% on foreign countries, particularly China, for the production of medicines, in particular antibiotics or anesthesia products. “France is suffering from significant deindustrialization which results in strong dependencies”we observe at the Élysée, where we recall the shortages of paracetamol during the Covid pandemic.

There are currently very strong innovations emerging, major questions that arise on regulation, on the way in which we finance all these players

An adviser to Emmanuel Macron

For the Head of State, it is “to strenghten” the country’s sovereignty by reindustrializing and innovating as international competition rages on. The Head of State could thus detail the list of deemed to be priorities and whose production could be relocated to France. Initially, this list was to be unveiled at the end of May.

Second stage, Wednesday, at the Salon Vivatech, in Paris, to talk about technological sovereignty, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence. “At the moment there are very strong innovations emerging, major questions being asked about regulation, about the way in which we finance all these players”, explains an adviser to the president. During a speech, the President of the Republic must make a “certain number of announcements”we promise at the Elysée.

A long time affair

Last step, finally, at the beginning of next week, at the Paris Air Show, this time to address the theme of sovereignty in decarbonization, in particular in the production of planes and helicopters. “It is a sector in which France is a world leader (…) How do we achieve the turning point of decarbonization?”, explains an adviser, promising, again, announcements from the Head of State. He needs to be heard. This is the objective and all the difficulty of this series of trips by the President of the Republic.

As with the reindustrialization of the country, regaining sovereignty is a long-term affair. It is difficult to show results when the relocation process takes place over years. For deindustrialization, Emmanuel Macron had circumvented the obstacle by relying on concrete examples of the successes of his policy: the establishment of factories in Dunkirk. To illustrate the renewed sovereignty of the country, it is more complex. Anyway, the short-term issue is not there.

For Emmanuel Macron, it is above all a question of continuing his tour of France of appeat launched after the adoption of the pension reform more than two months ago. And turn the page to launch a second five-year term mired in protest. It’s been going on since last week.

Read alsoStart-ups don’t want to miss the reindustrialization train

While each of his trips has so far been marked by the organization of cerolades to contest his reform, the President of the Republic has returned to the simple pleasure of the walkabout, in Normandy, on the occasion of the commemorations of the 6 June 1944. The same day, the unions organized their fourteenth day of mobilization and saw their ranks thin.

Time to reflect on its political system

At the same time, the oppositions are firing their last cartridges at the National embly. Last week, the Liot group’s repeal bill fizzled. Monday a new motion of censure filed against the government of Elisabeth Borne failed.

In opinion polls, Emmanuel Macron observes a slight rebound in his popularity after a long descent. He had given himself a hundred days to appease the country, he has just over a month left before the July 14 deadline. Time to reflect on its political system.

To relaunch, the President of the Republic is considering a reshuffle. And once again reaches out to LR to try to obtain this absolute majority which he has been lacking in the Hemicycle for a year. The theme of sovereignty, which he brandishes from Tuesday and for a whole week, also aims to do this: to convince the Republicans that they can agree with him on a few major themes.