Emmanuel Macron’s trip to Mont-Saint-Michel: the president calls on the French to “go beyond” in the face of the challenges to come

He moved to Mont-Saint-Michel (Manche) to celebrate the millennium of its abbey. On this occasion, Emmanuel Macron called, Monday, June 5, the French to “exceeding” in the face of the challenges of the 21st century, in particular ecological ones, like the trials of time experienced by this emblematic place of a certain “french spirit”.

The Mont Saint Michel “carries the history of the political construction of our country”launched the Head of State, detailing the Hundred Years War, the Revolution or the fight against the natural elements, starting with silting up of the bay. “Yes, we have always known how to be builders by mastering time, space, the elements”hammered the tenant of the Elysée, in a speech with willingly lyrical impulses.

Rejection of “declinism”, “fear” and “anxiety”

In front of the press, with the abbey in the background, Emmanuel Macron appealed “in the spirit of resistance” It front of “great shifts” that take shape, rejecting everything “declinism, fear, anguish or confrontation”a message that seemed to target the extreme right in particular. “They would like us to choose between a so-called fixed and nostalgic French identity and a modernity that would require the erasure of whole sections of our past”he lamented in his speech.

Since François Mitterrand in 1983, presidents have flocked to this emblematic place to convey their message. In 2007, Nicolas Sarkozy chose to launch his presidential campaign there. The Head of State also, in a way, responded in advance to the new day of union mobilization scheduled for Tuesday against the pension reform. “Now the country must also continue to move forward”he launched, while welcoming that the “Things are calmer than they have been”.

Unlike the trips that had followed the adoption of the reform, no pot concert disrupted this visit. Five or six Extinction Rebelion activists did try to engrave a message in the sand on the bay and unfurl a banner. But they were quickly interrupted by the police.

A campaign to classify more religious buildings

The Elysée has also announced a campaign to classify more religious buildings from the 19th and 20th centuries in France as historical monuments. All this in order to facilitate its preservation, with the possible launch of a financial subscription to the French.

It must be said that out of some 50,000 places of worship (including 42,000 Catholics) in France, only 10,500 are protected as historical monuments. A label which opens access to aid from the Ministry of Culture, argued the Elysée.