Reported from the source

Quick summary: French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to deliver his annual New Year’s Eve address on Wednesday from the Élysée Palace, where he will outline his roadmap for the coming year and address various challenges. The speech comes as Macron faces low popularity ratings at home and ongoing international crises, with an aim to launch final projects of his second term and ensure 2026 is a year of action.

President Emmanuel Macron will deliver his annual New Year’s Eve greetings on Wednesday at 8pm Paris time (GMT+1), detailing his vision for the year ahead and the domestic and international challenges France must meet. Internationally, Macron is contending with the continuing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, alongside a realigned global order. Domestically, his approval rating has fallen to 25 percent, its lowest since 2017, and a recent Toluna/Harris Interactive poll for LCI indicated that 63 percent of French people do not intend to watch the address. Sources close to the president stated that Macron will be keen to show his commitment to making 2026 a year of action and purpose, as he seeks to regain momentum and launch the final projects of his second five-year term. The framework of his address is expected to prominently feature the challenges posed by the war in Ukraine, which will enter its fifth year in February. Other anticipated topics include social media regulation, the return of a voluntary conscription service in France, and legislation on end-of-life care. Macron also aims to combat the trend of “French bashing” – denigrating France – often pushed by “self-proclaimed patriots” on the far right, while avoiding “blind optimism.”

Source: www.france24.com