France: Macron issues long-awaited presidential program

PARIS

Front-runner centrist independent candidate Emmanuel Macron Thursday unveiled his presidential program, with fighting government nepotism a pillar of his policy.

"We are not looking to adapt or reform, but to transform," Macron said.

The 39-year-old former economy minister, who founded his own political movement “En Marche!” (On the move) last April and surpassed his left and right rivals in the polls, laid out his plans to the press in Paris under the motto “Find our winning spirit to build a new France."

The 150-page program was prepared by 30,000 people in 3,000 workshops of local committees and 500 experts, according to the candidate.

On a national level, Macron said he would ban lawmakers and senators from employing family members and from carrying out consulting activities.

He would also cut the number of parliamentary seats and introduce term limits on elected members to "eradicate conflicts of interest".

"We will forbid MPs and senators from employing their family members, to put an end to nepotism," Macron said, adding that he would reduce conflicts of interest by prohibiting MPs from doing advisory activities.

This comes as conservative candidate Francois Fillon has been summoned to appear in court over allegations he provided bogus parliamentary jobs for members of his family.

On labor issues, Macron said he has no intention of raising the retirement age but he would reform pension systems to make them universal, in other words so those working in the private and public sector get the same deal.

"This will be the real end of inequalities," he said, adding he would also "publish the names of companies that do not respect equal pay between women and men" as part of his plan to promote gender equality in the social and political spheres.

On a social level, Macron said he would abolish the "highly expensive" residence tax for 80 percent of French households.

He also set plans to crack down on unemployment, tackle social injustice in poor suburbs, improve relations between young people and the police, and reinforce educational system.

-The EU and Turkey

On the international level, Macron said the remaining 27 EU member states must defend the single market in Brexit talks. He urged efforts to reinvigorate the Eurozone and called for closer European cooperation.

"It's obviously Europe that is at the heart of our project," Macron said. "Our responsibility in the years that come is to be able to rebuild the European dream," he added.

Macron also said although “the conditions for the entry of Turkey into the Union are clearly not met … Europe must not close the door to Turkey.”

The centrist candidate said he would report every year the progress of his term before Parliament in a joint session.

An Opinionway poll published Wednesday showed Macron going on to beat far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in the second round with 63 percent of votes.

The first round of the presidential election is set for April 23 and the runoff on May 7.