“My dear compatriots”: like every December 31 at 8 p.m. since 2017, Emmanuel Macron outlined, this Wednesday, his roadmap for the coming year, which according to him, “must be useful”, the challenges to face and the reasons for hope despite the current political instability and international context. Here’s what to remember from his televised speech.
The year 2026 “can be and will be a useful year”, says Macron
The year 2026 “can be and will be a useful year”, assured in the introduction to his speech President Emmanuel Macron, who promised to “ensure particularly that several major projects can be completed” before the end of his second five-year term.
The Head of State spoke of “the first steps of the national service for the engagement (of) young people”, on a voluntary basis from September. He also promised to “protect (the) children and (the) adolescents from social networks and screens”, via a bill to ban cell phones in high school and access to social networks before the age of 15.
Budget 2026: government and Parliament will have to “build agreements”
It is “essential” that the government and Parliament work “from the first weeks of the year” 2026 to “build agreements” to “provide the Nation with a budget”, also affirmed the President of the Republic.
The finance bill for 2026, whose examination in Parliament could not be completed before December 31, must return to the National Assembly from January 8 in the Finance Committee.
Emmanuel Macron “will do everything” to ensure that the presidential election takes place “protected from any foreign interference”
Emmanuel Macron assured that he will do everything to ensure that the 2027 presidential election takes place “protected from any foreign interference”.
Foreign digital interference, attempts to manipulate opinion on social networks and hacking actions have increased in recent years in most electoral campaigns in France and the municipal elections of March 2026 and the presidential election of 2027 will not escape the rule, according to the Viginum service, responsible for the fight against these destabilizations.
Emmanel Macron assures that he will be at work “until the last second” of his mandate
Emmanuel Macron also assured this Wednesday evening that he would see the end of his mandate and would remain “at work until the last second”, while voices were raised even within the presidential camp to demand an early presidential election.
“I will try every day to live up to the mandate you have entrusted to me,” declared the president during his wishes to the French.
In October, his former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe called for an early presidential election, saying that “the State is no longer bound”.
“Concrete commitments” for Ukraine, during a meeting of allies on January 6
European countries and their allies meeting in Paris on January 6 will make “concrete commitments” to protect Ukraine, the French president said in his New Year’s speech.
Emmanuel Macron called a meeting of the “Coalition of Volunteers”. This grouping, led by Great Britain and France, brings together more than 30 countries.
