French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed his support for holding several referendums "simultaneously" on major economic, social, or institutional reforms in the coming months, as he stated in a three-hour interview on TF1 on Tuesday evening.
"There are institutional reforms ahead of us, major economic reforms need to be implemented, and there is the issue of end-of-life," said Macron. "When we are too slow or blocked by the political situation, we can resort to a referendum and I will assume my responsibility," he added.
However, Macron did not specify which topics might be put to a public vote, although he ruled out the issue of immigration.
During the interview, the president also revisited his previous idea of a European nuclear umbrella to enhance security in Europe, expressing openness to discussions about the potential deployment of French nuclear weapons in other European countries. The framework for these talks could be established in the coming months, he indicated.
Macron emphasised that certain conditions would apply, such as France not bearing the financial burden for others’ security, ensuring France’s own defence capabilities remain fully intact, and maintaining that ultimate control over the use of the weapons would rest with the French president.
