French premier makes 1st major policy speech

By Nur Asena Erturk

ANKARA (AA) – France's prime minister unveiled the new government's policy in a parliamentary session Tuesday, including measures aimed at addressing farmers' concerns.

Gabriel Attal vowed "resolute action for the agricultural sovereignty" of France amid protests by farmers across the country.

The farmers started protesting two weeks ago in the country’s southwest and expanded their demonstrations to the Parisian region around the nation’s capital, contesting both the government and European Union’s agricultural policies and regulations.

Attal stressed that there will be a "wave of control" over food retailers, saying those that refuse to comply with a law aimed at ensuring a fair share of revenues for farmers will be fined.

He also admitted that millions of French were stuck in a minimum wage spiral and promised wage reform.

The prime minister also said he intended to simplify the bureaucracy in France. He plans to remove all the committees and bodies that did not hold a meeting in the past 12 months and alleviate the rules that "are weighing on companies."

Attal also announced new measures for the health care system.

Public medical aid will be reformed, foreign doctors working in France will receive permanent residency permits and patients who do not show up for their doctor’s appointments will have to pay for them.

Attal, a former education minister, said the government also wants to create "educational" community service sentences for juvenile offenders under the age of 16, adding that “when a young person is on the wrong path, we will propose to their parents that they be placed in a boarding school."

Attal became prime minister after rumors of a Cabinet reshuffle surfaced and previous Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne -- whose image had already suffered following much-contested pension reforms during the first half of 2023 -- resigned on Jan. 8 following a political debate.

President Emmanuel Macron replaced her with Attal the next day and a new government was formed on Jan. 11.