French President Emmanuel Macron said on On Thursday he would raise the retirement age, cut taxes and relax more work market rules if he wins second term in next the month-long election, seeking a mandate to lobby on with pro-business reforms.
Opinion polls show Macron risks win the first round of the election on April 10 and beat anyone opponent in a run-off on April 24. Its long time lead grew up in these last weeks, with voters approving of his diplomatic efforts over the Ukrainian war.
“We are at a tipping point where we can make a real difference,” Macron told a news conference, highlighting the war on at the gates of the European Union and global challenge of climate change.
Emphasizing its pro-business credentials are not without risk as households feel the pressure of rising price, but Macron said he wanted see through remodel of the economy.
Pose out his campaign Platform for the first time, he said he would raise the retirement age from 62 to 65, cut taxes by 15 billion euros ($16.55 billion) a year, condition certain benefits on community work and reform unemployment insurance to push people to obtain back for work.
“It’s completely normal, especially when on consider the state of public chests, which we work more”, said Macron.
Macron is a former investment banker who has been elected in 2017 on a centrist platform and its policies veered to the right during son mandate. But he had put some of son planned changes including statement pension age, on stand in the middle of a series of crises, including yellow the vest protests and the COVID-19 pandemic.
With economical growth soaring and unemployment falling to son current 7.4%, Macron can point data to show he restarted the euro zone second-most grand economy since he took officebut he said he wanted for further.
“The rate of unemployment is at an all time low for 15 years, youth unemployment rate is at son lowest level for 40 years…none of these results can be considered sufficient,” he said.
Fossil fuels
Macron said that another key the objective, if re-elected, will be to make France more self-sufficient, with proposals ranging from “massive” investment towards agricultural and industrial independence to building more nuclear reactors and reinforcement of the army.
France could be one of the first countries to wean off fossil fuels, he said, adding that he wanted for build a “European metaverse” for compete with we tech giants and make Europe more independent on this forehead too.
The 44-year former president, who is likely to face extreme right or conservative opponent in the run-off round, also said he would get tougher on law and order, including enforcement place more police on the streets, hardening conditions required for long-term residence permit and return it easier expel people whose asylum application has been rejected.
Macron also said he planned more subsidies for single mothers and inheritance tax relief for those who want to leave money to their grandchildren or nieces and nephews.
Opinion polls in these last weeks show Macron’s victory up at 31% of the vote in the first round, up about 25% last month.
But even if he goes on for win re-election, Macron will need son centrist The Republic on the move (LaRem) party – who has failed in all the recent local elections – and its allies win a parliamentary election in June if he wants to have a solid basis for implementing his policy.
