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Macron Returns to the Trail, Defends French 'Champions' and Reenters Budget Fight

Speaking in La Rochelle, he pressed a pro-business line to reassert himself in a fractious budget debate.

Overview

  • He told the Assises de l'économie de la mer that “we don’t make a country happier by stopping its champions from conquering new markets,” criticizing new Assembly amendments that raise taxes on multinationals backed by the left and the RN.
  • He backed offshore wind as essential to decarbonisation, conceded “we are late” on the Oléron project after a failed tender, and said the government is preparing a revised plan with clearer volumes and timelines.
  • He rejected efforts to pit renewables against nuclear, calling that “a very bad fight,” and reiterated his energy strategy that embraces both.
  • In Rochefort, he met middle- and high-school students to discuss the impact of social networks and screen time on mental health and daily life, reflecting his new focus on digital harms.
  • The trip was his first national outing in 46 days and signaled a bid to reconnect with the public while reengaging in the dispute over taxing large companies.