Macron Confronts French Anger in Debates, Reports Reuters

By Michel Rose

PARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron exhibited his characteristic blend of straightforwardness and humor while addressing questions from overseas mayors during a debate at the Elysee Palace on Friday. This meeting was part of a series of consultations he initiated last month aimed at easing social unrest.

Around 60 mayors from overseas territories attended the gathering, with some traveling as far as 8,000 kilometers to meet with him. This event was a component of a two-month "great national debate" that Macron introduced to address the grievances of the "yellow vest" movement.

The discussions spanned a wide range of topics, from the cost of vehicles in Guadeloupe to the issue of toxic brown seaweed in the Sargasso Sea.

"What I want with this format is to have a very frank and direct discussion," Macron stated to the mayors from French territories, including Reunion Island and Martinique, as the four-hour meeting commenced.

The yellow vest protests, named after the high-visibility jackets that French drivers carry in their cars, thrust Macron into a defensive position late last year. What began as protests against rising fuel taxes—taxes Macron eventually abolished—escalated into a broader outcry against the political elite and social inequality, leading to some of the worst violence seen in Paris in decades.

Now, six weeks later, Macron appears to be reclaiming the initiative, with polls indicating a rebound in his popularity. His recent engagements in town hall debates with local mayors and dissatisfied voters have reinvigorated the president.

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During the meeting, Macron listened to the grievances of the mayors, many of whom expressed concerns about the high cost of living and elevated unemployment rates in their remote regions.

However, he addressed several requests directly, denying additional funding and highlighting issues such as local cartels and corruption as contributors to the inflated prices of goods in overseas territories.

"The difference in the price of a car in Guadeloupe or Martinique compared to one on the mainland can be thousands of euros," Macron explained, his sleeves rolled up. "This difference goes into someone’s pocket. Let’s not kid ourselves… Sometimes it’s people who have been entrenched in local politics for a long time," he remarked, leading to murmurs from the audience.

When a mayor complained about the insufficient funds allocated to combat the Sargassum seaweed affecting Caribbean resorts, Macron responded, “Mr. Mayor, just because there’s a significant issue doesn’t mean that spending ten times more will solve it! We need to first understand what’s happening.”

Since initiating these debates on January 15, Macron has aimed to convey his policies in a more accessible manner, contrasting with the lengthy, jargon-laden speeches common in his earlier addresses.

Many observers have noted similarities to his energetic campaign rallies from 2016-2017.

This candid communication style was evident during the latest meeting. When one mayor bemoaned cuts to subsidies, only to be corrected by an advisor, Macron joked, "You just got caught by the cops!”

To another participant, a former minister under Socialist leader Francois Hollande, Macron quipped, “It’s not as if you had been minister for overseas territories in the past!” eliciting laughter from the audience.