Macron’s bid to woo the yellow vests risks opening a battle on two fronts

As France and the world grieved over the Notre Dame fire, French national politics rolled on behind the scenes. President Macron was scheduled to broadcast to the nation on his reform programme following the national consultation (Grand Débat) that has been underway for three months in the hope of quelling the five-month-old yellow vest protests.

The fire an hour before forced him to cancel the presidential message. But because the details of the reforms were in the pre-recorded speech – and because France is France – the outline of the programme leaked heavily. This was not a bad case of ‘a good day to bury bad news’; Macron was furious. But the national outpouring obliged him to delay the official announcement. What then is in that programme?

There are tax cuts for the middle class, indexation of pensions for the low-paid and local referendums planned. As to whether it will satisfy the yellow vests or heal a fractured society depends largely on what is under those banners.