Outstanding policies during the first term of French President Macron

During his first term as president, Mr. Macron pushed for a series of reforms in the economy, security, education and outstanding environment.

President Emmanuel Macron was elected for a second term after voting on April 24 Reuters

Economic, Mr. Macron promised to make France more attractive with enterprise foreign companies as well as domestic startups, through opening up labor laws and removing administrative rules, according to AFP.

Mr. Macron, a former Rothschild banker and former economy minister, has eased hiring and firing rules, giving businesses the power to negotiate wages directly with employees rather than abide by an agreement. sector-by-sector agreement, where unions have a greater say.

He also imposed a tax ceiling on dividends and capital gains at 30% and abolished the wealth tax on high earners.

Unemployment benefits are tightly controlled and low-income housing subsidies and pensions are reduced. These policies have led to Mr Macron being criticized as the “president of the rich”.

The yellow reflective vest movement in 2018 forced Mr. Macron to raise the minimum wage and lower income taxes for low-income earners, reversing the fuel tax hike.

Yellow reflective vest protesters at the Champs Elysees in 2018 Reuters

Leader in reforming the internship system to attract more young people, bringing the number of internship contracts to a record 700,000 by 2021.

The government also issued a “digital tax” for big men technology multinational like Amazon and Facebook, could bring in nearly 520 million euros for the 2022 budget.

Mr Macron also implemented major symbolic reforms to the railway company SNCF, scrapping a lifetime contract and introducing pension commitments for new employees.

After 5 years, Mr. Macron’s remarkable economic achievement is bringing the unemployment rate to a 15-year low, to 7.4% by the end of 2021 from 9.5% when he was new. take office. This achievement is due in large part to a multi-billion-euro policy package to save jobs and companies during the blockades caused by the pandemic. Covid-19.

Unemployment in France has fallen under Macron’s tenure Reuters

About security, under Mr. Macron, the French police force was accused of using excessive force against protesters. The incidents of white police using force to arrest minorities have increased the wave of anger, accusing security forces of racial discrimination.

Mr. Macron acknowledged the problem, but on the contrary also pushed for new laws to increase police authority, budget, and protect police from prosecution in some cases.

He also tried to ban the publication of videotapes of police officers on duty, but was later blocked by the Constitutional Council.

Firefighters clash with riot police during a protest against working conditions in Paris in 2020 Reuters

About immigrationbloody terrorist attacks involving extremists since 2015 have made immigration policy a major concern of voters. President Macron therefore forced to take tougher measures, leading critics to say that it has damaged the rights of immigrants.

In 2018, Mr. Macron pushed for legislation that would limit immigration and make it easier to deport if an asylum application is denied. The law also reduces the level of assistance for immigrants seeking a place of residence.

The government also aggressively wiped out migrant camps in Paris and the suburbs or near the port of Calais. Last year, France passed a law against “Islamic separatism,” giving authorities the power to close religious schools and places of worship and ban individuals who spread extremists.

About environmentPresident Macron reversed a plan to reduce dependence on nuclear energy that led to the resignation of Environment Minister Nicolas Hulot in 2018. He also plans to build more nuclear power plants and considers this power source ” green energy”.

Mr. Macron’s approval of the EU’s trade agreements with Canada and South America is said to have left environmental consequences later. He also failed to fulfill his promise to ban the use of pesticides containing glyphosate, a known carcinogen. Last year, the leader also reneged on his pledge to hold a referendum on including the fight against climate change in the constitution.

Despite Mr Macron’s statements about fighting climate change, a French court in November 2020 ruled the government was not doing enough to fulfill its pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 compared with levels in 1990 as set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement.

Nuclear power plant in Civaux, France Reuters

About foreign affairsThe consolidation of Europe is central to Mr. Macron’s policy. During his first term, the leader visited Brussels, home to EU and NATO headquarters 32 times, and visited Germany 19 times, according to The Telegraph.

Daily News Neue Zürcher Zeitung (Switzerland) assessed that Macron’s foreign policy was somewhat polarized through his meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and former US President Donald Trump, declaring NATO “brain dead” and inviting the foreign minister Iran to attend the G7 summit in 2019.