Following the G7 summit in Évian and the dinner at Versailles with Donald Trump, during which the American president signed the Iran nuclear deal, Emmanuel Macron was a guest on the France 2 program "L'Événement" on Thursday evening, June 19, to explain the driving forces behind his diplomacy and the reasons for his support of the agreement. The French president also addressed the 2027 presidential election, in which he will not be a candidate, but for which he is beginning to send messages.

This is the first time Emmanuel Macron has spoken so clearly and at such length about the 2027 presidential election. He will not be a direct participant, but that doesn't mean he won't play any role. The president already wants to frame the debate, starting by defending his record.

“I think that France today has stronger armed forces. It has a stronger and clearer diplomacy, and it has consolidated growth that surpasses that of Germany or Italy,” he stated on France 2. The President of the Republic then offered an assessment of the country’s situation: “We have a difficulty, and that is our public finances.” Emmanuel Macron also observed that “our social model must continue to be reformed. And that will be the task of those who come after us.”

The French "know what is good for them"

The president, elected in 2017 and re-elected five years later, acknowledged his failure to pass the pension reform. "I was elected in 2022 on a platform of raising the retirement age to 65 before the French people. I must admit that it was not accepted, but that's how democracy works. Quite simply, it's the most effective and relevant thing to do to reduce our spending," he stated. The future president will have no choice: "We will have to take up the pension reform again; it's essential in an aging country."

Emmanuel Macron outlined the stakes of the presidential election and defined his role: "To ensure that the debate is informed." The possibility of a National Rally victory was also raised during the interview. When questioned about his potential successor, the president adopted a more serious tone: "We don't talk about these things, and we're not obligated to say everything we think." He expressed his confidence in the French people, who "know how to choose what is good for them and seize their destiny." A choice they will have to make in less than a year.