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00:00Madame la Présidente, Speaker of the House,
00:06Mesdames et Messieurs les députés,
00:08Members of Parliament,
00:10cette épreuve de vérité,
00:12this is a trial of truth.
00:15As leader of the government,
00:20with backing of the French president,
00:24this is a trial which I wanted to be brought to.
00:30Some said it was unreasonable,
00:34some said it was too much of a risk.
00:36However, I feel it is the exact opposite.
00:40The greatest risk would be to take no risk,
00:45to let things keep on going as they currently are,
00:49to do politics as we always have,
00:53to keep enduring a situation without enduring sanctions
00:56that need to be brought in.
01:00For us, to walk beyond the cliff's edge.
01:04The question that we have before us today
01:06is not one of politics.
01:08It is a matter of history.
01:11Politics, that is up to the political parties,
01:14rivalries between one and the other,
01:17issues of power.
01:19Historical questions are one about people and nations.
01:25Political questions are ones about adults who are always fighting.
01:30Historical questions are also about the children
01:35and the world that we are building for the future.
01:37Political questions are questions for upcoming elections,
01:45but historical questions are ones for the generations to come.
01:50Questions about tomorrow which need an answer today.
01:57We all know that in spite of what the outcome of today is going to be,
02:08is that there is going to be a major change that needs to come in the coming years.
02:14And I would just like to take a few minutes to remind you of what that situation is.
02:23Since 2000, we are a country that has produced less,
02:27less than its direct neighbours.
02:29Our closest neighbours, be it Germany or Belgium,
02:37we have lower GDP per capita.
02:41Our Dutch counterparts are streaming ahead of us.
02:47And despite what we have tried to do over the past few years
02:49through creating jobs, companies, investing through France 2030,
02:55imagine what our family incomes would have been
03:01and what our state coffers would have been
03:02if we had some 15 to 30% extra.
03:0915 to 30% extra on our pay.
03:1215 to 30% on our state coffers to work with
03:16in addition to what we currently have,
03:18where we currently stand,
03:20where we would be on par with our neighbours.
03:22If that were the case, France would not have a debt crisis.
03:26We would not be where we are today.
03:30And at the same time,
03:32a direct corollary of that
03:34is that there is a great issue in terms of national education.
03:37Our schools, our middle schools, high schools, universities,
03:41and now that were once exemplary
03:48and leaders on the global stage,
03:51are now falling behind in terms of fundamental learning,
03:55in terms of reading, writing, languages, maths.
04:01We are falling behind.
04:03Our children are falling behind.
04:05And because of that,
04:10our children can no longer fully enjoy
04:13the republican promise that has been made to them.
04:16A vast question is before us,
04:20one about a very social model
04:22that was created some 80 years ago
04:25under the former Council of the Resistance Fighters
04:29and is now thrown into disarray
04:33because of the ageing population
04:36and because of the imbalance that we have in our pension system.
04:39We have a great issue when it comes to housing,
04:44housing for families,
04:46trying to become homeowners if they wish to,
04:51housing for the young,
04:53for students,
04:53even emergency housing.
04:56Our model needs to be overhauled.
05:03We are the country in the world
05:04that has clearly identified the environmental issues at play,
05:08how we have to go for carbon-free energies
05:10more than any other nation.
05:11This is an issue
05:15which is unfortunately losing traction around the world,
05:19so we need to live up to it.
05:23There is great concern,
05:24great concern in terms of safety,
05:28our day-to-day safety and security,
05:31protection of people and goods,
05:33and we know that this is a concern
05:35which is most deeply felt
05:38by the most vulnerable,
05:39and therefore
05:42it is because of a failing from our state.
05:50We have a great question
05:53in terms of migration,
05:54all forms of migration.
05:57When we look at booming global populations,
06:00when we look at
06:01people leaving their countries
06:05from around the world,
06:06due to all forms of reasons,
06:10we have duties.
06:12We have duties
06:13to take in people when we can,
06:16and when they do enter our nations,
06:18we have to help them
06:19through work,
06:20through language learning,
06:21and through a general understanding
06:23of our principles.
06:26So throughout France,
06:27we have seen an imbalance
06:29between what is happening
06:31in major cities and rural areas
06:33where too many decisions
06:35are being made
06:35and rural communities
06:36are left to the wayside.
06:38Some people are left
06:39with the feeling
06:40that they are not being heard.
06:41And to our overseas territories
06:42where the future
06:46is in the hold,
06:48we need to overhaul
06:49our system,
06:50and this is what
06:51the government
06:52has been trying to do
06:52ever since we were created.
06:54The task ahead of us
06:55is vast but urgent,
06:57a vast cathedral
06:59that needs to be rebuilt
07:00because our nation
07:02is worthy of such a cathedral.
07:06We need to lead the world
07:08in terms of fundamental sciences
07:09for maths,
07:10physics,
07:11chemistry,
07:12genetics,
07:13pharmaceuticals,
07:14for technology,
07:16quantum computing,
07:17robotics,
07:19global leaders.
07:21When we look at
07:23other empires out there,
07:25global leaders
07:26for space,
07:27for naval yards,
07:29for nuclear facilities.
07:31But all of this
07:33is the story
07:37of a nation
07:37that has climbed
07:39great heights.
07:41We have been able
07:42to bolster our economy,
07:45bolster the farming sector,
07:47industry,
07:48where we have built
07:49great assets
07:50for our nation.
07:53But all of this
07:55and all of these
07:55vast questions
07:56that lay ahead of us
07:57are put to you.
08:02Thank you for comments
08:05because now I can have
08:06a glass of water.
08:07but all of these questions
08:16are put to you
08:18today
08:19as one
08:22vital question,
08:24a vital urgency
08:25because our very life
08:27is in
08:28your hands.
08:30Our state,
08:31our independence,
08:32our public service,
08:33our social model,
08:34it is about
08:38managing our spending
08:39and managing
08:41our debt levels.
08:42For your support
08:43is the minimum
08:44that I need
08:46to be able
08:47to continue
08:47my task.
08:49Therefore,
08:49I would like
08:50to put a question
08:51to the National Assembly
08:52to have your take
08:56on this observation
08:57of where our nation
08:59currently stands.
09:00We are in a state
09:01that we have not seen
09:02for the past 51 years.
09:03For 51 years,
09:06expenditure
09:06has increased,
09:08deficit
09:08has increased,
09:10debt
09:11has grown.
09:12Year
09:13after year,
09:14we have spent
09:16more
09:17than we have
09:18earned.
09:21There have been
09:22reasons behind
09:24this when we have
09:24had to push
09:26through crises,
09:27subprimes,
09:28which is a global
09:29crisis under
09:29Nicholas Sarkozy.
09:34Everything we have
09:34seen since 2020
09:35with COVID,
09:36the war in Ukraine,
09:37the energy crisis,
09:38inflation,
09:39and all sorts
09:40of threats
09:40that we have seen
09:41coming our way.
09:41We continue
09:47to spend
09:48what we will
09:48not backtrack.
09:50This has become
09:51just a natural
09:52reflex.
09:53It has become
09:54a dependency.
09:57Spending
09:58for daily
09:59expenditure,
10:00for public
10:00services,
10:01for pension,
10:03to pay off
10:03our social
10:04security system.
10:06We are
10:07living
10:07on a loan.
10:10From loan
10:11to loan,
10:12that is how
10:13we operate.
10:15For every euro
10:16that we have
10:17gone over,
10:19we have had
10:19to take on
10:21further debt,
10:22just like a
10:23household or a
10:24company will
10:24take on loans
10:25from a bank.
10:27So one euro
10:27of deficit
10:28is one euro
10:30of additional
10:30debt.
10:31And the addition
10:32of all of those
10:34years of deficit,
10:35billions every year,
10:37has brought us
10:38to this stage
10:39where we are at
10:403.4 trillion
10:44in debt.
10:47This build-up
10:48of debt
10:48comes at a
10:49cost.
10:51It means
10:52reducing
10:53expenditure,
10:56what we have
10:56to pay off
10:57to our debt
10:57owners
10:58is in
11:00interest
11:00what we have
11:02to pay off
11:03just to pay
11:03off part
11:04of the debt.
11:04If we don't
11:05do it,
11:06we'll be heading
11:06into bankruptcy.
11:08We would not
11:09be able to
11:10borrow a single
11:11euro more
11:11to think
11:15in a nation
11:16like ours
11:16that we no
11:17longer have
11:17money to
11:18pay civil
11:19certs,
11:20pension schemes,
11:22to no longer
11:23pay off
11:24interest on
11:24our loans.
11:24Our current
11:27annual
11:28reimbursement
11:30goes above
11:34and beyond
11:35what our
11:36nation can
11:37produce
11:38through our
11:39own growth.
11:40We need
11:46to have
11:46specific figures
11:47in mind
11:47because these
11:48figures,
11:48they're not
11:49abstract,
11:49they're very
11:50real and
11:51they show us
11:51something quite
11:52obvious,
11:53something quite
11:54clear.
11:55Every single
11:56year,
11:56on our current
11:59growth and
12:00inflation
12:00trajectory,
12:01every year,
12:02France
12:02produces
12:0550 billion
12:10euros more
12:11than the
12:11previous
12:12year.
12:13But against
12:13that,
12:15when we look
12:15at 2020,
12:19the installments
12:20to pay off
12:21our loans
12:21were about
12:2130 billion
12:22euros,
12:2350 and
12:2430.
12:24In 2024,
12:26we're at
12:2660 billion.
12:27This year,
12:2867 billion.
12:31Next year,
12:32in 2026,
12:3475 billion.
12:35The year
12:36after,
12:3785 billion.
12:39And at the
12:40end of this
12:40decade,
12:42107 billion.
12:45With 50
12:46billion created
12:46by our work
12:47and over
12:48100 billion
12:49paid off
12:51to those
12:53who have
12:53lent us
12:53the money,
12:55I'm sure
12:55you can do
12:56the calculations.
12:59All of
13:00the progress,
13:02the growth
13:03that we want
13:03for ourselves,
13:04for our
13:04children,
13:05is being
13:06given over
13:07to our
13:08debt holders.
13:1160%
13:11of them
13:12are foreign.
13:14This is
13:15expending
13:17that produces
13:18nothing,
13:18that creates
13:19nothing.
13:20It doesn't
13:20improve our
13:21services.
13:22It doesn't
13:23create
13:23further
13:24facilities
13:25for our
13:25nation.
13:26So our
13:26country
13:27continues to
13:28work.
13:28We believe
13:29that we're
13:29creating
13:29wealth,
13:30but we
13:30are actually
13:31getting poorer
13:31bit by
13:33bit.
13:34Ladies and
13:34gentlemen
13:35of the
13:35house,
13:38this is
13:40sapping
13:41a lifeblood
13:43and it is
13:45unbearable.
13:46And if
13:46something is
13:47unbearable,
13:48we mustn't
13:48stand by
13:49and bear it.
13:49We need
13:50to change.
13:50And that
13:51is the
13:51question that
13:52we are
13:52putting to
13:53you today.
13:54As the
13:55captain of
13:55the ship,
13:57here I see
13:57a ship
13:58that is
13:59taking on
13:59water,
14:00that is
14:01slowing us
14:02down.
14:02Our
14:03duty,
14:04our
14:04urgent
14:05duty,
14:05is to
14:06make
14:06our
14:07ship
14:07waterproof.
14:09And I
14:10try and
14:10say that,
14:10but then
14:10people say,
14:11but it's
14:11not urgent.
14:13It can
14:13wait.
14:15You're
14:15too
14:16impatient,
14:16you're
14:16trying to
14:17be too
14:17hasty.
14:19The
14:19boat is
14:19still
14:19afloat.
14:22Don't
14:22throw out
14:23the
14:23crew and
14:24the
14:24passengers
14:25on
14:25board.
14:27But
14:27this is
14:28not
14:28a
14:29divergence
14:30in
14:30points
14:30of
14:30view.
14:31This
14:31is a
14:31time
14:31where
14:32everyone
14:32needs
14:32to
14:32take
14:33stock
14:33of
14:33the
14:33situation.
14:34What
14:34I say
14:35is that
14:36if
14:36we
14:36want
14:36to
14:37save
14:37our
14:38ship,
14:40a
14:40ship
14:40that
14:40we
14:40are
14:41all
14:41standing
14:41on,
14:42which
14:42our
14:42children
14:43will
14:43stand,
14:44we
14:45must
14:45not
14:46delhi.
14:50We
14:50must
14:51all
14:52take
14:52action.
14:56And we
14:57will
14:57be
14:57able
14:57to
14:57keep
14:58our
14:58ship
14:58afloat,
14:58but we
14:59need
14:59to
14:59act
15:00now.
15:02Because
15:05otherwise we
15:05will see
15:06the lives
15:08of French
15:08men and
15:09women
15:09impacted.
15:11Just think
15:11about what
15:12the consequences
15:13will be.
15:14Wherever we
15:15all come
15:15from,
15:17we are
15:17all heirs
15:19of the
15:20French
15:20nation.
15:21a power
15:29on the
15:30global
15:31stage
15:31with just
15:33a few
15:33million
15:33people,
15:34but we
15:34have
15:35great
15:35power.
15:36And our
15:36nation is
15:37part of
15:38the
15:38history
15:38books,
15:38and the
15:39history
15:39books
15:39show us
15:40that the
15:41present
15:41is putting
15:43us in
15:43great
15:43peril.
15:43influence
15:44vital,
15:46the
15:46ability
15:49for us
15:49to be
15:49able to
15:50share
15:50our
15:50values,
15:51French
15:51values,
15:51universal
15:52values
15:52around
15:53the
15:53world
15:53is
15:54under
15:54threat.
15:55Human
15:56rights,
15:57rights
15:57of
15:57women,
16:00the
16:00rights
16:00of
16:01children,
16:03liberty
16:06for
16:07privacy,
16:09to
16:09have
16:09free
16:10opinion,
16:11to
16:12hold
16:12belief
16:13to
16:14have
16:15a
16:16religion.
16:18All of
16:18the rights
16:19that we
16:19have
16:19are a
16:23list of
16:23rights
16:24which are
16:24probably
16:24longer
16:24than
16:25any
16:25other
16:26country.
16:30So how
16:30can France
16:31continue to
16:32defend its
16:32values and
16:33give meaning
16:34to those
16:34values within
16:36its own
16:37borders and
16:37within the
16:38European Union
16:39if it is
16:40weak,
16:41if it
16:42is no
16:43longer
16:43credible
16:44because it
16:45is no
16:45longer a
16:46sovereign
16:46nation.
16:49We are no
16:49longer defending
16:50our own
16:51interests,
16:52our own
16:52health,
16:52our own
16:53prosperity.
16:54We are
16:55defending
16:55a group of
17:00nations which
17:01are under
17:01threat on the
17:02global stage.
17:04We need
17:05to keep
17:05our sense
17:06of influence
17:07on the
17:08global stage
17:08because if we
17:11depend on
17:12others then
17:13our values
17:13depend on
17:14them as
17:14well.
17:17Being
17:17subject by
17:18debt is
17:19just as
17:20bad as
17:20being
17:20subjected
17:21through
17:21military
17:22force
17:22because our
17:25debt is
17:27submerging us.
17:30it is
17:33therefore up
17:34to us to
17:35free ourselves
17:36from this
17:36debt.
17:38For that we
17:39need to take
17:40action, we
17:41need to put in
17:41every ounce of
17:43effort possible
17:43which is why
17:44this question is
17:45being put to
17:46you today
17:46because this
17:53will guide us
17:53in the future
17:55debates on
17:55laws.
17:55we have the
17:56law on
17:56military
17:57spending.
18:00Because not
18:01only do we
18:01have to
18:02continue with
18:03the current
18:03budget but we
18:03will have to
18:04spend more
18:04given the
18:07range of
18:07dangers which
18:09are on our
18:10doorstep.
18:13This
18:13additional
18:14spending will
18:16add in an
18:17additional 3
18:18billion euros
18:19this year as
18:21was presented
18:22back in July
18:22and that is
18:23why the
18:24government
18:25will put
18:28forward a
18:29plan to
18:29reduce our
18:30debt burden
18:31so that
18:34France will
18:34slowly be able
18:35to take
18:35itself out of
18:36the rising
18:38waters of
18:38debt.
18:42We will
18:43not reach a
18:44stage where
18:45we have no
18:45more debt,
18:46it's just that
18:47our debt will
18:47no longer
18:48continue to
18:49rise.
18:50In 2029
18:52it is said
18:54that our debt
18:55will reach 3%
18:56of GDP.
18:59And that is
19:00the top end
19:00of that threshold.
19:02If we can keep
19:03debt beneath
19:053%, then the
19:07productive, creative
19:09powers of French
19:10men and women
19:10will start to reap
19:13its benefits.
19:14technology of a
19:14world that goes
19:15from revolution
19:16to revolution,
19:17the intelligence
19:18artificial,
19:19our cultural,
19:21artistic intelligence
19:21will help us prevail
19:26over artificial
19:27intelligence.
19:28If we can throw
19:32off the chains
19:32that are binding
19:33us, then
19:34fulfillment is
19:36within our reach.
19:38It is within the
19:39reach of our future
19:39generations.
19:40Everything is ready
19:41for us.
19:43All we need now
19:44is the determination
19:45of those who want
19:46to save themselves.
19:50This will require
19:51effort, moderate
19:53effort, to spend
19:56just a little less
19:57than what is
19:58currently expected,
20:00to limit expenditure,
20:01to spread that
20:02limit over time,
20:04and to share that
20:05message with people
20:07within France and
20:07outside the world,
20:08to say that no one
20:09will be left to the
20:10wayside.
20:10And what that means
20:11is that we will not
20:12leave the youngest
20:13people in our nation
20:15by the wayside.
20:17I received numerous
20:19messages from people
20:21talking about the
20:22younger generations
20:23and the weight that
20:24is on their shoulders.
20:26The youngest people
20:27in our nation,
20:27they currently bear,
20:29and they will continue
20:29to bear for the next
20:3020 to 30 years,
20:31or even more,
20:32the weight of those
20:34trillions of euros
20:36in debt that we
20:37have taken on.
20:39But they will bear
20:40the weight of it.
20:43They will not have
20:44the necessary systems
20:46in place for them
20:47to manage the country,
20:49to be able to decide
20:50for the future
20:51because of this debt.
20:54All of the debt
20:55that we have taken on
20:56has been for just
20:57current spending,
20:58not for additional
21:00facilities.
21:00For the past few decades,
21:06we have broken the trust,
21:10the ties of trust
21:11between the future
21:12generations and the
21:13governing parties.
21:16The younger generations
21:17feel as if they have
21:18been sacrificed.
21:20They won't have a
21:20pension system,
21:22or they'll say,
21:22we'll never get a
21:23retirement.
21:23I know you'd like us
21:29to increase the burden
21:30on their shoulders,
21:31but we don't want
21:33to do that.
21:33We feel that we need
21:35to reduce the burden
21:36so that they can be
21:37free from the slavery
21:39in which we are
21:40putting them.
21:40while it may be
21:56simple for me
21:57to talk about
21:59the dichotomy
22:00that we are faced with.
22:03We have to talk
22:04about the housing crisis
22:06for people in our nation,
22:08but also the student
22:09housing crisis.
22:10we need to focus
22:11on this for their future.
22:14The current situation
22:15is no longer bearable
22:16from a democratic
22:17point of view,
22:18it is no longer bearable
22:19from a civic point of view,
22:21nor from a moral
22:22point of view.
22:26This awareness
22:28of the current situation
22:29is so important.
22:34We cannot tell
22:35the younger generations
22:36that we care for them
22:38and that we love them
22:39if at the same time
22:40we ignore the fact
22:41that there is
22:42an ever-increasing
22:44debt burden
22:45being put on their shoulders.
22:52Every time you call out,
22:53I get a glass of water.
22:55I have seen a great level
23:00of transparency between people
23:14and I saw how powerful
23:19their message is,
23:20even though there are people
23:21who continue to keep their eyes
23:23shut to the reality
23:24of the world.
23:30What we now need to say
23:32to these people
23:33is that we see
23:35what the situation is.
23:36But what a lot of people
23:37tend to say is that
23:38but we don't agree
23:38with the solutions
23:39that are being put forward.
23:41We don't agree with the means,
23:42we don't agree with the measures
23:43that are being put in place.
23:44And that is why
23:45we want to bring down
23:47the governor,
23:47the governor
23:48that is trying
23:48to take action.
23:50Others would say,
23:52and I hear how powerful
23:53their speech is,
23:55that immigrants need to work.
23:59Foreigners,
24:00they're the root
24:01of all of our problems.
24:04We're spending all of them
24:04and wasting all of our money
24:05on them.
24:08They're the ones
24:08picking from the till.
24:10Others would say
24:15that it's Europe
24:15calling for 20 billion here,
24:1930 billion there.
24:20It's so easy.
24:26I agree with the fact
24:27that we need to look
24:28at each measure
24:29to see if there are
24:30any unusual uses
24:32of the measures
24:34which are negatively
24:36impacting French citizens.
24:38And this week,
24:40I said,
24:40we will talk about
24:41state-backed medical systems
24:44to make sure
24:46that we are living
24:47up to standards.
24:48The standards
24:49which have been placed
24:49by Claude Eivant
24:51and co.
24:55Remember,
24:56we are the first government
24:58taking full account
24:59of the report
25:00that they put through
25:00some two years ago.
25:01But even when I said that,
25:03people spoke up saying,
25:04this is sickening.
25:07But when we look
25:08at all of the savings,
25:10we still need more.
25:12We still need more
25:12because the problem
25:13is so vast.
25:15On the other hand,
25:16we have some people saying
25:17we need to tax
25:18the rich
25:18and the wealthy.
25:20once again,
25:27I hear that it is a very
25:29effective discourse
25:31because Bernard Arnault
25:32has become quite
25:33an emblematic figure.
25:35His and those like him
25:36have become targets
25:37of a magic bullet solution,
25:41saying that
25:43they're the ones
25:45we need to target.
25:54I do not defend
25:59nor attack
26:00the success
26:01of those families,
26:02but I also understand
26:04what they have done
26:05for the nation.
26:06Our foreign trade deficit
26:08in the luxury sector
26:09is some 40 billion euros
26:12a year.
26:14Their market capitalization
26:16and the tourism industry
26:18represent some tens
26:21of thousands of jobs.
26:24Some would say
26:25that we just need
26:26to take what they have,
26:30increase their tax
26:31by about 2%,
26:32and France's problems
26:33will be all but solved.
26:36But that is ignoring
26:37two key facts.
26:38The answer, first,
26:39is that a country
26:40like ours requires investors.
26:45The 1% of the highest
26:46taxpayers take on
26:48a large portion
26:49of private investment
26:51in our production sector.
26:53Second,
26:54in a world of open borders,
26:59those who are targeted
27:00the most
27:01have a very simple,
27:03very immediate response.
27:04They just pack up
27:05and move.
27:08There are so many countries
27:10out there
27:10where they can find
27:11a tax haven,
27:13even in Europe,
27:14Luxembourg,
27:15Belgium,
27:15the Netherlands.
27:21Just ask what happened
27:22in the United Kingdom.
27:25They said that they
27:26would tax foreigners.
27:30Those foreigners
27:31who had a tax exemption,
27:32the response
27:33was that moved.
27:34a huge boom
27:37in real estate prices
27:39in Milan.
27:43And François Hollande
27:44knows too well
27:44that this type
27:46of taxation
27:47is banned
27:49by France's
27:51constitutional court.
27:53For many years,
27:55it is said
27:55that it is predatory
27:58and non-unconstitutional.
28:13Let me say
28:16quite clearly
28:17here today
28:18that we will have
28:20to find
28:21a form
28:22of contribution
28:23so that the highest
28:24incomes
28:26will be able
28:28to pay
28:28some form
28:30of specific
28:30effort
28:31so that
28:34they can
28:35contribute
28:36so that we
28:38can continue
28:38to also
28:40fight against
28:42forms
28:43of tax
28:44optimisation
28:45and aggressive
28:46tax planning.
28:50Back in July,
28:56I said that
28:57parliamentary commissions
28:57should be able
28:58to take part
28:59in that work,
29:00the work
29:01on a more
29:02solidarity-based
29:03taxation system.
29:04But these
29:09measures
29:10will not
29:11be sufficient
29:12when we
29:12look
29:13at what
29:14some call
29:15for,
29:16saying that
29:17we are going
29:18to have
29:1820 to 30
29:19billion in
29:19new taxes
29:20and then
29:21you have
29:22those saying
29:22not one
29:23euro more.
29:24On one hand
29:25you have
29:26those saying
29:26we're going
29:28to take
29:29all of the
29:29money spent
29:29on migrants
29:30and on the
29:31other hand
29:31you have
29:31those people
29:32saying
29:32they will
29:34fight against
29:35them day
29:36and night.
29:37We need
29:38to work
29:38together
29:39so that
29:40we can prevail
29:45because
29:45those people
29:46calling to
29:47bring down
29:47the government
29:48they are just
29:48adding
29:49to the noise
29:50in our state.
29:53The problem,
29:54the threat,
29:57the risk
29:57that France
29:58now faces
29:59is still
30:00very real
30:01and very present.
30:02there is only
30:04one way forward
30:17for our nation.
30:20to move forward.
30:34When
30:36General de Gaulle
30:37said
30:38that
30:42for one
30:45a country
30:47that cannot
30:48have
30:48a balanced
30:50checkbook
30:50is one
30:50that has
30:51lost itself
30:52and the
30:52other
30:52saying
30:53balanced
30:54checkbooks
30:55must not
30:56be done
30:57through
30:57further debt.
30:59They were
31:00saying
31:00the same
31:01thing
31:01and this
31:01is the
31:02question
31:02that is
31:02being put
31:03to you
31:03today.
31:05Members
31:06of Parliament
31:07all of you
31:10need
31:10to face up
31:11to your
31:11responsibilities
31:13as individuals
31:14as people
31:15all of those
31:18of you
31:18who see
31:19that something
31:19is not right
31:20in our state
31:22who want
31:23to find a solution
31:24who have
31:25a notion
31:26of democracy.
31:29I'm speaking
31:30to you
31:30because
31:33our fate
31:34is not yet
31:35written.
31:36The National
31:37Assembly
31:37has
31:41a decision
31:44to make.
31:45The decision
31:46has not
31:46been made
31:47for you
31:47by the biggest
31:48political groups
31:48here today.
31:49I'm speaking
31:49to you
31:50to those
31:51who feel
31:52that they
31:52can still
31:53make a decision.
31:54When we look
31:54at Article 27
31:55the right
31:56of vote
31:57of members
31:57of the Parliament
31:58is a personal
31:59right.
32:01Thereby,
32:01in principle,
32:02you cannot
32:02be given
32:03orders.
32:05Your vote
32:05cannot be
32:06forced.
32:07It is your
32:08own individual
32:09mind.
32:11You
32:11against your
32:12own consciousness.
32:23All political
32:24parties,
32:25not within
32:25the government.
32:32All political
32:33groups,
32:34not within
32:34the government,
32:36said that
32:36they will
32:37overthrow
32:37the government.
32:42Now,
32:43that said,
32:44interesting
32:44because
32:45we have
32:46neither
32:46the absolute
32:47nor minority
32:48or absolute
32:49majority.
32:51And yet,
32:52ever since
32:53we were created,
32:54they said they
32:54would do
32:54everything in
32:55their power
32:55to overturn
32:56us.
32:57Let me just
32:58say one
32:59thing to
32:59that.
32:59I have a
33:06very clear idea
33:07of what political
33:08movements are.
33:10I joined
33:11political
33:11movement back
33:12when I was
33:12very young
33:13and I have
33:15not left
33:17my political
33:17ideals,
33:19even today,
33:20even when
33:21there were
33:21just a handful
33:22of us
33:22and we
33:23were against
33:25all others.
33:26And I am
33:27quite proud of
33:28those men and
33:29women who work
33:29with me closely
33:30today.
33:31I am convinced
33:32that here,
33:35in this room
33:36today,
33:37there is a great
33:39sense of loyalty
33:40that many of you
33:41feel,
33:42loyalty to your
33:42parties.
33:43but political
33:46parties also
33:47have a
33:47fundamental
33:48failing.
33:53And this is
33:53something that
33:54even General
33:54de Gaulle
33:55spoke of,
33:56is that they
33:58always lead to
33:59further division
34:00despite the fact
34:01that they bring
34:01together.
34:02This is what
34:03we are seeing
34:03today.
34:05Our country
34:07needs everyone
34:08to have a very
34:09clear vision.
34:10we need unity
34:12and yet
34:13division
34:14and divisiveness
34:16is going to
34:17prevail.
34:20Political
34:21power is
34:21saying that
34:22they are going
34:22to overturn
34:23the government.
34:24These are the
34:25political forces
34:26that are the
34:27ones who do
34:28not agree
34:29with each other.
34:30They are
34:30opposed to
34:31each other.
34:32They say
34:33that they are
34:34sworn enemies.
34:37They say
34:38that their
34:39ideas,
34:40will never
34:41see eye to
34:42eye.
34:44Always
34:44accusing one
34:45or the
34:46other.
34:49And what
34:50these parties
34:50are preparing,
34:52if their
34:53divisiveness
34:53were to
34:54prevail,
34:56it will be
34:57great disorder
34:58in our nation
34:59where everyone
34:59is just shouting
35:00and no one
35:01is listening
35:02and nothing
35:02good will
35:03come of it.
35:03will never
35:04go.
35:05The government
35:06through me
35:11is putting
35:11our
35:11responsibility
35:12on the line.
35:15So ladies
35:15and gentlemen,
35:16members of
35:17parliament,
35:17the issue
35:18that you are
35:19tackling today
35:20as representatives
35:21of the nation
35:23is quite
35:25a radical
35:26decision.
35:27It is a
35:28decision that you
35:29are making
35:29on behalf
35:30of all
35:31French citizens.
35:38It requires
35:39bold action
35:40on your
35:41part.
35:45If we
35:46have your
35:48support,
35:48if we don't
35:49have your
35:50support,
35:50if you don't
35:54believe
35:55in what needs
35:56to be done,
35:57then the
35:58government
35:58will have
35:58failed,
36:00and therefore
36:00the government
36:01will have
36:01no reason
36:02or purpose.
36:07We will
36:07continue to
36:09try and
36:10do our
36:11efforts.
36:12We will
36:12no longer
36:13try to
36:14sweetcoat
36:18things.
36:18We will
36:19try to
36:23avoid us
36:24ever
36:24heading
36:26into a
36:28failure,
36:28but if
36:29I do not
36:29have your
36:29support,
36:30then I
36:30will not
36:30be the
36:31man for
36:31the
36:31hour.
36:34But the
36:34truth of
36:35the world
36:36is that
36:39there is
36:39a sense
36:40of urgency
36:40and the
36:44future cannot
36:44be built
36:45upon ambiguity.
36:47We need
36:47the support
36:47of the
36:48nation
36:48when action
36:49needs to
36:49be taken.
36:50And for
36:50me,
36:50that is
36:51the top
36:53priority
36:53as part
36:54of our
36:54democracy.
36:58I never
36:58believed in
37:01trying to
37:01force things
37:02through.
37:02I believe
37:02in trying
37:03to see
37:03eye to
37:04eye.
37:09So we
37:10will try
37:10and have
37:11that shared
37:11conviction.
37:14For me,
37:15there are
37:15only two
37:15ways forward.
37:16there is
37:18one
37:19which is
37:21where the
37:21rest of
37:22the world
37:22is heading,
37:24where
37:25nations are
37:26being forced
37:27to obey,
37:29authoritarian
37:29regimes,
37:30where
37:31rights of
37:33citizens
37:34are being
37:36violated
37:36in a
37:38no-holds-barred
37:39type world,
37:40leading to
37:42misunderstanding,
37:43to lead
37:43to the
37:44most
37:44outrageous
37:45situations.
37:48When we
37:48look to
37:49the east
37:50and even
37:52to the west,
37:55we used to
37:56believe that
37:56the American
37:57west was a
37:58close neighbor,
37:59but when we
37:59look now and
38:00we see a
38:01bulldozer type
38:02of politics,
38:03brute strength
38:04prevailing,
38:06to rounds
38:08of applause
38:09of some
38:10and wails
38:12of despair
38:12from others.
38:13But we
38:14believe in
38:15a different
38:15project,
38:17a project
38:17where democracy
38:19is fairer,
38:21more interesting,
38:22more fruitful,
38:23one where
38:24we respect
38:25all citizens,
38:26even those
38:27the most
38:27minority
38:28citizens,
38:30where everyone
38:31is master
38:32of their
38:32own future.
38:34This
38:34project
38:35is one
38:37where we
38:38have a
38:38shared
38:39truth,
38:40and that
38:41shared
38:41truth is
38:42the way
38:42forward,
38:43that will
38:44bring our
38:44nation
38:45together,
38:45it will
38:46create
38:46unity,
38:47and it
38:48will wipe
38:48division
38:49from the
38:50tables.
38:55Thinking
38:56back to
38:56Marc-Sandieu
38:57after the
38:57first and
38:58second
38:58world wars,
38:59he sat
39:00on these
39:01benches,
39:02he said
39:02that democracy
39:03and social
39:05organization
39:06require
39:08responsibility,
39:13conscious
39:13citizens,
39:15a consciousness
39:18where people
39:19are fully
39:20aware of the
39:20situation.
39:22We, as citizens,
39:24we are not
39:25here to be
39:26sentenced to
39:27either obey
39:27or rise up
39:28against the
39:29power to be.
39:29we are
39:32citizens with
39:33open eyes and
39:34open hearts,
39:35truth as our
39:36compass.
39:37We are a
39:39nation that
39:39questions,
39:40questions not
39:41about the
39:42future of our
39:42country or the
39:44world, but
39:45about how we
39:47can retain that
39:48future.
39:49So what he is
39:51saying, and
39:54what we can
39:54see in the
39:55current climate
39:56is that there
39:56is one way
39:58forward for
39:58our nation,
40:00that of
40:00truth, a
40:01truth that
40:02we share,
40:03and bravery
40:04to see that
40:05truth.
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