Macron Summons France's Political Rivals to Élysée

Record fuel costs and growing threats to European security are piling pressure on Macron while exposing the limits of presidential power.

President Emmanuel Macron at a press conference.

France's President Emmanuel Macron arrives to address the audience during a press conference following a meeting with candidates for the 2027 presidential election. Photo: THOMAS SAMSON/Reuters

On Friday 18 September, Emmanuel Macron convened the principal party leaders and candidates for the 2027 presidential election at the Élysée for a meeting focused on the deteriorating international situation and its implications for security and energy. Held behind closed doors, the talks took place as fuel prices hit new record highs and international tensions continue to escalate.

The Return of the Saint-Denis Meetings

The meeting follows the format of the Saint-Denis Meetings, launched by Macron in August 2023. At the time, the president had convened leaders of the main political parties represented in parliament for 12 hours of talks at the Maison d’Éducation de la Légion d’Honneur, with the aim of fostering dialogue and reaching compromises in the absence of a presidential majority in the National Assembly. The format has since been used on several occasions, particularly for discussions focused on international crises.

Once again, Macron invited a broad cross-section of the political class. Centrist and center-right candidates Édouard Philippe, Gabriel Attal and Bruno Retailleau were present. From the left, Raphaël Glucksmann and Olivier Faure attended, along with environmentalist Marine Tondelier and Communist Fabien Roussel. Marine Le Pen, who was traveling in Gironde, was represented by Jordan Bardella, who attended alongside his ally Éric Ciotti. Jean-Luc Mélenchon did not attend in person, and Manuel Bompard represented La France insoumise (LFI).

The initiative drew skepticism from the left. Jean-Luc Mélenchon refused to attend, denouncing it as yet another “posturing” gathering that, in his view, aims more to showcase the president’s actions than to produce concrete decisions. So far, such gatherings have had no tangible impact on the French political crisis.

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Soaring Fuel Prices at the Center of Discussions

Although the talks officially focused on the international situation, soaring energy prices quickly took center stage. On Friday, diesel averaged over €2.39 ($2.74) per liter, a new record. The government announced its intention to extend its aid program for “frequent drivers” beyond 30 September, though it has not yet specified the new terms.

The international context is having a direct impact on energy markets. The conflict with Iran and tensions surrounding strategic maritime routes – particularly the Strait of Hormuz – have contributed to rising prices. Macron also intends to secure France’s supplies of diesel and natural gas and has announced that a Group of Seven (G7) meeting dedicated to energy will be convened soon.

The president has, however, ruled out – at this stage – the idea of responding solely to the surge in costs with a massive increase in public aid. He stated his intention to “address the causes” of the crisis, while indicating that existing measures would be evaluated and adjusted.

This position has sparked further political demands. Jordan Bardella called on the president to agree to a reduction in fuel taxes, on behalf of “working France”, and, along with Éric Ciotti, demanded a 50% cut in these taxes at the pump. Fabien Roussel likewise urged swift measures to lower the prices of gasoline, natural gas and electricity. Upon leaving the meeting, Éric Ciotti lamented that no concrete measures had been announced.

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Ukraine and Russian Threats

The other major focus of the discussions was European security. Participants were briefed on developments in the war in Ukraine and the increasing number of hybrid attacks attributed to Russia. Macron stated after the meeting that the “nature of Russian aggression” had changed and announced the development of a “protection plan” for France’s critical infrastructure, particularly against drone attacks and cyberattacks. He also reaffirmed the need to continue supporting Ukraine.

Marine Tondelier, for her part, highlighted what she sees as the vulnerability posed by France’s energy dependence on the Middle East and Russia. Meanwhile, Marine Le Pen recently stated that France could no longer support Ukraine to the same extent, given the state of its public finances.

The discussions also took place against a deeply fragmented domestic political landscape following Macron’s decision in June 2024 to dissolve the National Assembly. Without a parliamentary majority and approaching the end of his second consecutive term, the president cannot run for re-election in 2027. His opponents view his repeated use of such meetings as a way to remain at the center of the political debate, particularly by focusing on matters of national sovereignty and international affairs.

The paradox is that this international profile does not necessarily mean that France has a real capacity to act on the crises that are currently shaping its daily life. When asked about the situation in the Strait of Hormuz – whose blockage is directly contributing to soaring energy prices – Macron acknowledged that “France does not hold the key to Hormuz”. This statement implicitly recognizes the limits of presidential power in the face of a crisis whose main drivers are largely beyond Paris’s control.