A little right, a little left. Reformist, but also conservative. Secular, but who does not fail to remember the founding values of Christianity. Convinced pro-European, but also capable of defending that nationalist pride that has always distinguished France, both in industry (remember the Fincantieri affair, which was later closed in a convenient way for everyone) and in policies on migrants, on which Paris does not discount anyone. Emmanuel Macron, the youngest president of the Republic, today celebrates exactly one year since his election to the Elysée: it was May 7, 2017 when, in the second round of the presidential elections, he beat the extremist Marine Le Pen with over 66% of the votes, equal to more than 20,7 million.
Macron ends his first year in office with more lights than shadows and with one certainty: he is the first successful post-ideological leader in the world, excluding US President Donald Trump, who however remains a separate matter and certainly does not shine in terms of appeal international. The success of the 40-year-old former banker of the Rothschilds, a philosophy graduate with a thesis on Machiavelli, was instead built mainly outside the borders of France. In fact, if in his country the president has to suffer protests (particularly ferocious those in the streets on the occasion of the May 1st holiday), in recent months he has known very well how to take advantage of Brexit, the momentary German uncertainty and the Italian chaos to reaffirm the role of Paris on the European scene and beyond. Think of the military intervention in Syria and the now privileged welcome that the leader of En Marche receives at the White House: his dialogue with Trump could prove to be fundamental especially on environmental issues, on which the tycoon is always reluctant, but also on politics commercial.
Just after the pressure received from Europe through a joint letter signed by Macron, Merkel and May and sent to Washington, the tenant of the White House has decided to postpone the application of duties on products from the Old Continent by a month, until June 1st, while those against China are already in force. However, there are also successes on the domestic front. Unlike his predecessor François Hollande, who had seen his popularity plummet to an all-time low after the first year of his presidency, Macron holds firm: some turn up their noses at his "political multiculturalism", as he himself defined it, but the data says that the economy returned to growth and the deficit and unemployment fell. Even the deficit/GDP ratio fell to 2,6%, improving the estimates of the government itself, which remained at 2,9%: for the first time in almost ten years, France fell below the 3% recommended by Brussels.
The first reforms therefore seem to work, even if for the French, who are also the people of Napoleon Bonaparte and Gaullism, what does not always go down well is the method: Macron, despite having a solid majority in the Chamber, thanks to the French electoral system which was able to reward a party that had won 24% in the first round, it is making unprecedented use of government decrees. According to a recent IFOP survey, 73% of respondents consider Macron "authoritarian", and less than 30% consider him "close to citizens". For example, the Loi Travail, the first reform brought about in 2017, passed by decree, which however did not convince the unions. Particularly discussed was the rule on economic dismissal, which allows the company (except in some situations and for some protected categories) to legitimately dismiss if it demonstrates a sharp drop in turnover or an increase in losses.
The French-style Jobs Act also reduces the possibility of appealing to the Labor Court (in short, it tends to protect the employer, also through the reduction of the terms for appeals), even if on the other hand it increases the compensation for dismissal. Among other things that have already been done, we should mention the progressive reduction, starting this year, of the tax on first homes for 80% of those who pay it. The goal is to abolish it by 2020 and extend the right to the remaining 20% of property owners, i.e. the wealthiest. For this further move, however, another 10 billion is needed and it seems that Paris, not wanting to raise taxes, will be forced to cut public spending. Since 2018, the 30% flat tax has also been applied for capital annuities (waiting for that on businesses, which should drop from 33,33% to 25% according to the programme), a rule considered a favor to the rich, while the levy for social contributions has increased since 1 January this year, to 9,2% for wage earners.
Macron has also launched the "passe culture", a culture bonus practically copied from Renzi's: 500 euros for eighteen-year-olds, but also an app downloadable by everyone to report and promote cultural events. Next goal: pensions. The retirement age will not be touched, as almost all the other presidential candidates wanted to do a year ago, lowering it (except for the Republican Fillon who even wanted to raise it), but the French president dreams of a single system, which replaces the current 37 legislative regimes, each for each specific case. So retirement always at 62 and always the same years of work necessary to achieve it, but flexibility in the sense that whoever wants to can retire earlier, losing only the part of the quota not accrued, while whoever wants to work beyond 62 will have the right to do so and thus build a higher pension.
However, there are shadows. Never as in recent weeks, France has been paralyzed by strikes: the biggest grain is that of sNCF, the railway company which has launched a rationalization plan to cover the debt and which from 2020 it will have to deal with the opening of the railway network to other operators (France is currently the only European country with a state monopoly on the railway network). The unions, literally enraged, have proclaimed an indefinite strike that began on April 3 last and which will go on until June 28, with 48 hours of agitation every five days. For the same reason – the liberalization of the market – strikes are also on the way in the energy sector, while the Air France file. Just Friday the employees of the airline have rejected the new contract proposed by Ad Janaillac, who also resigned for this reason.
Macron, a year later: a dynamic and innovative leader, who however is more popular abroad than in his own country. Also because, when it comes to deciding, he fearlessly decides to displease the old arch-confraternities of power.
