Netherlands ensures that its action is guided by the “audacity” – Le Figaro

On TF1 and France 2, on 14 July, the head of state defended his role in the Greek crisis and defined himself as a president “bold” and protector.

Strike while the iron is hot. Crowned with two agreements on Greece on Monday and Tuesday on Iran’s nuclear François Hollande was able to do after-sales service to the French, in his speech of July 14, filmed in the living room of portraits of the Elysee. “Decidedly, the world ahead!”, Welcomed the president, praising the “very important agreement” signed in Vienna at night, limiting Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. “This is the party of France today,” he repeated twice. Hers, too, so.

This is especially the compromise reached between Athens and its creditors on the night of Sunday to Monday the head of state praised not hide his satisfaction. For six months, the Netherlands to ensure that Greece, on the precipice or bailed in exchange for reforms, while remaining within the euro area.

On the evening of the referendum, July 5, France was one of the only countries to oppose a Grexit, become the preferred scenario many European capitals. After a night of painful negotiations, an agreement was finally reached in the snatch by Nineteen of the area. “It is Europe that has won and France, which has taken its place and played its role,” praised the head of state.

Draw “lessons” of the crisis

Asked about the brutality of this agreement, which deprives Greece of part of its sovereignty in exchange billions obtained, Hollande denied any “humiliation” of Athens: “I do not accept d a people can be humiliated, he defended. The humiliation would have been to drive (Greece) in the euro zone. “The Head of State recalled that the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was desperate to stay in the euro. “You know a lot of the countries that will affect 85 billion of Europe?”, He stressed.

The president also took care to praise the strength of the Franco-German couple, which has yet been put to the test in this crisis. He did not hide that the Chancellor had “a moment of interrogation” considering a Grexit but had finally convinced her to give it up. But the president has failed to clarify that the agreement reached was in its toughest requirements, the seal of Germany, to which France does not have the means to oppose. “We had to ask (the Greeks) reforms that had not been made,” argued Holland, who wished to draw “lessons” of the crisis. He discussed the idea of ​​creating a Parliament of the euro area, and reaffirmed his wish to establish a budget and fiscal convergence. He was to meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel about it in the day. Tuesday, Holland also received a call from the Greek president.

A flattering portrait, while the head of state remains very unpopular

During the interview with Claire Chazal (TF1) and David Pujadas (France 2), which lasted forty-five minutes, Holland drew his sketch, the president of a “bold” and protector. A flattering portrait, while the head of state remains highly unpopular and powerless to act on unemployment. But on July 14 under the banner of the fight against terrorism, seven months after the attacks in January, Hollande praised his security action with increased resources allocated to the police and gendarmerie in particular. “Nothing will be released,” stressed the Head of State, stating that the system in place since January would be extended throughout the year.

On the economic and social front, Hollande has made no new announcements. He welcomed the return to growth, even if he still considered “too low”, and once again linked his fate unemployed. He referred to a digital law, which will take account of new technologies related activities.

Hollande defended his reforms, particularly its responsibility pact for businesses, while defining itself as a “man on the left. He sketched a quick definition of the left government, which was “not only manage, protect, but also transform” while avoiding that equality is needed on freedom, including creating. He defended the choice both for business and protective social model. Asked about a possible return of the ecologists in government, he kicked into touch “. Those who want to come to work are welcome (…), but if they do not come, I do not judge them, that is their business”

“A certain idea of ​​France”

After several weeks of campaigning on the ground, in which he attempted to renew its relationship with the French, Hollande vowed that he did not think presidential, “I’d be missing the point.” He declined to answer a question on Nicolas Sarkozy, who is not a subject “on (his) work table.” However, he reiterated, as he had done several times in private, that questions about identity would likely be at the heart of the campaign for 2017. It would then be up to him to defend a France “in motion” folds away and nostalgia, a “French soul,” “a certain idea of ​​France”. With this last phrase borrowed from de Gaulle, he quoted intentionally Holland begins to draw what his future could look like country, if candidate based on that of Mitterrand in 1988, above the parties and focused the gathering. “I’m not here to hang me, has he also claims. A successful five-year period would be for him to have taken “all decisions” that were required. To this question, Holland wanted to believe that he would answer yes in two years.