It's the return of the fireside chat.
As a nod to Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, recently swept away by the Covid-19, Emmanuel Macron addressed the French seated in a black armchair, near a fireplace in the Aides de camp lounge, at the 'Elysium.
In the hearth, a log flames.
That we are far from the usual scenography of the president at his office ...
The president, whom his detractors have often portrayed as haughty, arrogant, contemptuous, has chosen for his wishes the register of proximity and empathy.
He praised "those who held on to the ordeal", "those who made people dream in this gray period", in short the daily "heroes" who formed the "second line" behind the caregivers.
It's “Jean-Luc”, the garbage collector from Guyana, it's “Gérald” the entrepreneur from Angers who kept his mask factory running non-stop, it's “Rosalie” the bookseller from Bagnolet, it is the young "Lucas" of 11 who gave his tablet to the sick.
"They are the faces of hope", proclaimed the president, greeting those who "held the country in the test".
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In a recorded 15-minute speech, the Head of State wanted to distill a good dose of optimism after a year that ended with two confinements and 64,000 deaths from the coronavirus.
"In 2021, we will be able to cope with health, economic, social, terrorist and climatic crises", he assured.
And to hammer out the word "hope" countless times to extol the state of mind of a "resilient" nation, enduring in the face of hardship.
A nation to which "nothing can happen".
"Together we will come out even more united," assured Emmanuel Macron, not without a hint of self-satisfaction.
"Whatever the cost, I assume", insisted the president, congratulating himself on having made "the right choices at the right times".
The "unjustified slowness" in the vaccination campaign
Coué method, say his opponents.
Volunteerism, will answer those close to him.
Moreover, Emmanuel Macron promised not to abandon the youth, "to whom we have asked so much to save lives".
Side health situation, he criticized the "unwarranted slowness" for "bad reasons" in the vaccination campaign.
One way to respond to the growing controversy over France's delay, compared to the pace of our neighbors.
And to put pressure on his government: "We will not add to the cost of the crisis that of inaction", he insisted.
"This year 2020 was not limited to the epidemic", then added Emmanuel Macron.
The president spoke of tax cuts, the extension of paternity leave, the creation of France service houses… In this pre-presidential year, he began to draw up a balance sheet.
The Head of State, on the other hand, was quieter on the financing of the debt (it will be necessary to "build a response") or on the resumption of reforms.
However, he has planned on a "course to 2030".
As if he was stepping over the 2022 poll ...
A tone against the doubts he had expressed in his interview with Brut on a possible new candidacy for the Elysee.
“Maybe I couldn't be a candidate,” he said on December 6.
It was before the renewed optimism.