Interview with Emmanuel Macron: The President is considering "several referendums" in the "coming months"

Support for Ukraine, the war in Gaza, pension reform, youth health, referendums... Emmanuel Macron addressed a wide range of topics during an interview on TF1 that lasted nearly three hours. The French president notably mentioned holding "a multiple consultation" in the "coming months."

Regarding the end of life, the French president indicated that the referendum "may be a way to unblock" the issue "in the event of a deadlock" in Parliament. During his speech, Emmanuel Macron described the Israeli government's actions in the Gaza Strip as "shameful."

This live broadcast is now over, thank you for watching it on BFMTV.com.

National Rally President Jordan Bardella denounced Emmanuel Macron's "empty chatter." "Not even the announcement of a major referendum has enhanced the appeal of a useless performance," wrote the far-right MEP.

"The post-Macron era is being prepared now, with us," wrote Jordan Bardella on X.

The president of the Socialist deputies returns to Emmanuel Macron's interview on TF1.

"He is a president without a majority, without legitimacy, and who is defending a record without nuance," Boris Vallaud berated on BFMTV.

This is the last question of the show posed to Emmanuel Macron: "How do you see yourself?"

"I am the first president not to be able to run again," Emmanuel Macron began by recalling that he has not been allowed to serve more than two consecutive five-year terms since the constitutional revision of 2008.

"Every day I think about one thing: our country, and to have as little blame as possible, I will fight to the end," the head of state reassured.

Asked about a possible presidential candidacy in 2032, Emmanuel Macron assured that he had "not yet thought about it."

François Bayrou will be questioned tomorrow by the commission of inquiry, which is focusing in particular on Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram.

The Prime Minister will have to justify himself to MPs after several people were questioned and claimed that he was aware of the facts. The centrist has always denied having any knowledge of the scandal in this establishment which welcomed several of his children.

"He has my complete confidence. We've talked about it a lot, I have confidence in him, and he will answer all the questions we've asked him," Emmanuel Macron defended.

It is now the turn of Blast journalist Salomé Saqué to question the president on the mental health of young people, which has deteriorated significantly since Covid-19 .

"All the measures" have not yet been taken, regrets the president, while highlighting the My Psy program which covers several therapy sessions per year.

As for the explosion of youth precariousness in France , the head of state calls for "a single social payment" which would group together all social assistance in a single transfer for students who do not live with their parents.

While the right and the National Rally are calling for a referendum on immigration, Emmanuel Macron does not "see" any possible consultation on the subject that "would allow for effectiveness."

"I don't see what Article 11 of the Constitution has to say," the president added. This article defines the issues that can be addressed through referendums.

The Head of State calls for the application of the decrees resulting from the immigration law of December 2023 .

Emmanuel Macron, who had promised to consult the French people on December 31 , is defending the organization of several referendums "at the same time" in the "coming months."

"The idea is to be able to engage our compatriots on major economic and social reforms. Between now and June, the government will propose several reforms, and then I'll see which ones seem worth a referendum," the head of state further explained.

"Whenever we are politically blocked, we can go to a referendum," the president explained.

Questioned by journalist Gilles Bouleau on François Bayrou's proposal for a referendum on public finances, Emmanuel Macron responds.

"If some can go to a referendum, I say why not?" the head of state said. "But be careful, taxation and the budget are matters for Parliament; they are not subject to a referendum," the president reminded.

Article 34 of the Constitution states that it is up to Parliament to vote on laws relating to public finances.

Emmanuel Macron wants to impose "age verification on social networks" for "our children and adolescents."

"This is a European competence and it must be done," the head of state added.

Emmanuel Macron is considering a referendum on end-of-life "in the event of a deadlock" on the subject in Parliament.

This "may be a way to unblock" the issue, the head of state further explained. The head of state had said he was in favor of active assistance in dying, following in the footsteps of the Citizens' Convention on the subject .

Sports journalist Charles Biétry, who suffers from Lou Gehrig's disease, asks the president his position on assisted dying.

"I hope that the text" which legislates on the subject "will be voted on," Emmanuel Macron replied.

The National Assembly opened debates on the development of palliative care and active assistance in dying yesterday.

Sylvie Eberena, French weightlifting champion, challenges the president on the wearing of the veil in sports .

"I support the Olympic charter, which prohibits the wearing of all religious symbols in competitions," Emmanuel Macron replied. "Competition is not the place for religious symbols," the president added.

"As for the practice of sport on the fields, it is up to the sports federations to decide," Emmanuel Macron clarified, however, calling for "pragmatism."

Robert Ménard asks Emmanuel Macron what he plans to do about prison overcrowding.

"Yes, there are delinquents and criminals who must be imprisoned," the head of state said. To achieve this, he called for "renting" prison spaces "wherever they are available," including abroad.

3,000 prefabricated spaces are to be built in the coming months, far from the construction of the 18,000 spaces planned by 2027.

With 81,599 inmates recorded as of February 1 , French prisons have never seen such a high number of incarcerated people. However, detention centers only have 62,363 operational places.

Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin hopes to reinstate "incarceration fees" for prisoners to finance, in particular, "the operation of prisons."

"This is a relevant measure," said the head of state.

Former Minister of Justice Eric Dupond-Moretti, for his part, called the idea "heresy." Gérald Darmanin did not provide the precise amount that could be demanded from the incarcerated.

It's now up to Béziers Mayor Robert Ménard to challenge Emmanuel Macron on the explosion of drug trafficking in France. The mayor, once close to Marine Le Pen, regrets that municipal police officers don't have more power in this matter.

The Élysée Palace tenant hopes that "the government can pass a law that will give all mayors who wish to do so the possibility that their "municipal police can, with their agreement, work under the authority of the prosecutor to be able to make referrals, flagrant offences, and impose fixed fines."

Emmanuel Macron is now being questioned about possible sanctions against Israel. The head of state says he is "open" to a review of the "cooperation agreements" between the European Union and Tel Aviv.

These agreements include, in particular, the absence of customs duties on certain products.

Following a video of an emergency doctor in Gaza, Emmanuel Macron judged that "what the Netanyahu government is doing" is unacceptable regarding the humanitarian situation.

"There is no water, there is no medicine, we cannot get the injured out," the president added, denouncing it as "a disgrace."

In its latest report, the Hamas Health Ministry in Gaza recorded at least 2,326 people killed since March 18 , bringing the total number of deaths in the devastated Palestinian territory to 52,418 in nearly 19 months of war.

Israel is facing growing international criticism for blocking vital aid to Gazans, plunging the territory into a "humanitarian catastrophe," according to the UN.

In Gaza, the humanitarian catastrophe is worsening day by day as Israel's plan to expand its military operations sparks international outrage.

Asked whether it was appropriate to use the term genocide to describe the situation, Emmanuel Macron explained that "it is up to historians to say," "not a president."

"This is a humanitarian tragedy and it is unacceptable," the president explained, saying that his "job was to do everything possible to make it stop."

The head of state is responding to a proposal by Agnès Verdier-Molinié, who heads a liberal think tank. She is calling for the identity card to be merged with the health insurance card, following in the footsteps of Michel Barnier, who had already raised the issue .

"Yes, to have a very simple document, unique if possible and if the Constitution allows it," Emmanuel Macron replied.

"I fully accept whatever the cost . No one told me not to do it," Emmanuel Macron defended himself, referring to the Covid-19 period.

The head of state is questioned by Agnès Verdier-Moliné, head of a liberal think tank, about the state deficit. In 2024, the deficit stood at 5.8% of GDP, compared to 5.4% in 2023 and 4.7% in 2022.

The Head of State is asking the government to "open a social conference on our social model" of protection.

"Our model is 80 years old and relies far too heavily on work today," says Emmanuel Macron. On the table are issues such as old age, unemployment, and social security.

Questioned by CGT Secretary General Sophie Binet on the issue of retirement at 64, Emmanuel Macron indicated that "it's no" to organizing a referendum on the abolition of retirement at 64.

The reform, which was scheduled to take effect in 2023, was not approved by Parliament. As Prime Minister at the time, Élisabeth Borne activated Article 49.3 after months of protests.

"If we repeal this reform, there will be around ten billion euros to be found every year," the head of state suggests. Sophie Binet, for her part, mentions the Zucman tax, which aims to tax assets in France worth more than 100 million , and which would bring in 20 billion euros per year to the state coffers.

Employees of the metallurgist ArcelorMittal demonstrated this morning to protest the loss of more than 600 jobs after years of state aid.

"I am not going to nationalize ArcelorMittal," the head of state said.

The fate of the company has mobilised political action , from the left, which, like the CGT, is calling for the nationalisation of French blast furnaces, to the former Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire.

The former tenant of Bercy considered that "everything" had to be done to save ArcelorMittal in Dunkirk, without ruling out a "temporary" and "last resort" nationalization if the company did not fulfill its obligations.

The Head of State returned to the question of European nuclear deterrence.

"I want to start a debate, but France will not pay for the security of others, it will not be a deduction from what we have, and the final decision will always be France's," explained Emmanuel Macron.

"We are ready to open a discussion," particularly on the deployment of aircraft armed with nuclear "bombs" in other European countries, the president said.

As head of one of the two nuclear powers in Europe, Emmanuel Macron had already said on February 28 that he was ready to "open the discussion" on nuclear deterrence with his European partners .

Even the Ukrainians have the "lucidity to say" that they will not be able to retake all of their territories after the conflict with Russia, the head of state said.

Crimea, which has been under Russian control since 2014, is expected to be one of the points of negotiation between Russia and Ukraine. This territory is likely to remain Russian in the event of peace between the two countries .

Emmanuel Macron believes that "Russia will not stop there if we let it do its thing," explaining that he is "doing as much as possible" with his European counterparts.

"We do not want to trigger a third world conflict," insisted the head of state, recalling that the "role of Europeans was not to be on the front line" on the border between Russia and Ukraine.

Emmanuel Macron has closed the door on the seizure of Russian assets to finance Ukrainian defense. We do not have the "legal framework" to use these assets, the head of state asserted.

Since the start of the invasion of Ukraine , the European Union has imposed economic sanctions on Russia , including the freezing of Russian assets held on its territory. These are estimated at 24.9 billion euros.

The interest generated by these funds is used for Ukraine's benefit. It represents approximately 3 billion euros per year. Gabriel Attal, president of the Renaissance deputies, is among those calling for the seizure of Russian assets. A resolution to this effect was already adopted by the deputies in March .

The president, however, promised sanctions against Russia "in the coming days" if the ceasefire is not implemented.

Questioned about an Ifop poll showing that 69% of respondents believe that "France is changing for the worse," Emmanuel Macron defended his record after eight years at the Élysée Palace.

"Our country is characterized by a form of pessimism about itself," regrets the head of state.

"There are many daily difficulties," the head of state acknowledged, however, citing in particular "social plans" and "underpaid work." "We have tried to hold our own in the face of crises," the president defended, judging that the country has "rebuilt its strength and reindustrialized."

The interview with the head of state has just begun on TF1. It is expected to last approximately two hours.

The president will be surrounded by 100 square meters of screens. Speakers will include CGT Secretary General Sophie Binet on pension reform and layoffs at ArcelorMittal, YouTuber Tibo Inshape on school sports, and Cécile Duflot, director of the anti-inequality NGO Oxfam, on a possible inheritance tax.

After his time in the wilderness following the failed dissolution of the National Assembly, the head of state intends to show that he has regained control .

With over 26 million subscribers on YouTube, influencer Tibo InShape will challenge Emmanuel Macron during his interview on TF1 this evening.

Despite the controversies , the man who is the number one YouTuber in France has always taken numerous political stances . This commitment is exceptional among other star content creators.

The videographer has already made a foray into Macron's party. In 2019, he promoted the universal national service (SNU) accompanied by Gabriel Attal , then Secretary of State to the Minister of National Education and Youth.

According to an Elabe poll for BFMTV published on Sunday , 83% of those questioned are in favour of holding a referendum.

The majority of them want to be consulted on public spending, debt and taxes, as well as pensions and immigration.

The organization of one or more referendums is causing concern in the president's camp.

"The president is taking a real risk by re-entering the fray if he proposes one or more referendums to the French people, just as he has regained some support in the public eye. Is this really strategic?" a central bloc MP worried to BFMTV.

"We're waiting for Macron to make a breakthrough!" asserts another left-wing official, who suspects the head of state of wanting to take advantage of an international situation in which his actions on Ukraine and against Donald Trump are considered consensual, to return to the center of the game.

The referendum options envisaged by Macron can be found here in our article .

Regularly raised by the Head of State in recent years, and mentioned again during his New Year's greetings to the French people on 31 December , the organisation of a major consultation of the French people should very probably be announced by the President this evening.

Among the possible topics is the ban on screens or phones for young people, already mentioned by the Head of State during a press conference in January 2024 and then in June 2024 .

Another possibility on the table: the organization of a referendum on local authorities to simplify the different levels of responsibility.

François Bayrou, for his part, had called for a referendum on the recovery of public finances . But Macron's party doesn't believe in it much.

The president could also choose to ask the French to vote on several subjects on the same day.

Read our article on what to expect from Emmanuel Macron's interview.

Relatively discreet on the domestic scene since the dissolution fiasco last summer, the head of state will speak this evening to give his vision of the "challenges facing France."

Emmanuel Macron will be questioned in particular by the general secretary of the CGT Sophie Binet with whom he will discuss the question of retirement at 64 .

He will also be competing against liberal economist Agnès Verdier-Moliné, YouTuber Tibo InShape, sports journalist Charles Biétry and climate journalist Salomé Saqué.

Good evening everyone, and welcome to this live broadcast of Emmanuel Macron's interview tonight on TF1. The head of state will begin speaking at 8:10 p.m. and will last approximately two hours.