Macron pledges to transform politics in address before parliament at Versailles

Further information
Under the Fifth Republic, tradition has it that after his appointment, the Prime Minister delivers a speech before MPs in which he outlines the key points of his Government programme, the main reforms and measures he wants to implement. This is the general policy statement (DPG). President Emmanuel Macron delivered a 'state of the nation' speech to members of the National Assembly and Senate of France at Versailles on the 3 July 2017. In the speech he outlined his ambitions for France during his Presidency, in which he sought a 'profound transformation' of France'.

He said he wanted to put France on a 'radical new path'. Among other things he planned to reform the electoral law, reduce the number of MPs and lift the state of emergency imposed in 2015.

On the following day, 4 July 2017, the new Prime Minister, Édouard Philippe, delivered his general policy statement before the National Assembly - the new government's legislative programme.

• Primary Source

The Local.fr, 03.07.17: France is ready for 'radically new path', says Macron as he vows to slash French lawmakers by a third https://www.thelocal.fr/20170703/macron-says-france-ready-for-radically-new-path

Euro|Topics: Debates, July 2017: Did Macron's Versailles performance go too far? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/181904/did-macron-s-versailles-performance-go-too-far

ESO: Background information: Can France liberalise pensions and labour under Macron? / Third-way à la française: What do Macron’s reforms involve and how likely are they to succeed? http://www.europeansources.info/record/can-france-liberalise-pensions-and-labour-under-macron-third-way-a-la-francaise-what-do-macrons-reforms-involve-and-how-likely-are-they-to-succeed/

ESO: Key source: France Presidential Election 2017 http://www.europeansources.info/record/french-presidential-election-2017/

ESO: Background information: Macron completes electoral grand slam amid record-low turnout / French president reappoints Édouard Philippe as PM after legislative vote / Macron reshuffles cabinet, boosts women to top posts http://www.europeansources.info/record/macron-completes-electoral-grand-slam-amid-record-low-turnout-french-president-reappoints-edouard-philippe-as-pm-after-legislative-vote-macron-reshuffles-cabinet-boosts-women-to-top-posts/

Politico, 03.07.17: Macron lacks fire in first ‘state of the union’ à la française http://www.politico.eu/article/macron-lacks-fire-in-first-state-of-the-union-a-la-francaise/

EurActiv, 04.07.17: Macron wants EU nations to hold debates on ‘refounding Europe’ http://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/macron-wants-eu-nations-to-hold-debates-on-refounding-europe/

Deutsche Welle, 03.07.17: Emmanuel Macron wants to cut French parliament by third, streamline legislature http://p.dw.com/p/2fqSt

Politico, 04-05.07.17: French PM calls on parliament to muster ‘courage’ for reforms http://www.politico.eu/article/french-pm-calls-on-parliament-to-muster-courage-for-reforms/

France24, 04.07.17: French PM says time to end addiction to public spending http://www.france24.com/en/20170704-france-prime-minister-philippe-speech-macron

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