French President Emmanuel Macron struck a determined tone in his New Year’s Eve address, saying 2026 “can be and must be a fruitful year” as he enters the final stretch of his second five-year term amid domestic uncertainty and global upheaval.
In a televised speech, Macron outlined three guiding principles for the year ahead: unity, strength and hope. Calling on citizens to stand together, he urged the French people to reject racism and antisemitism, stressing that “every French person has a role to play” in defending the Republic’s values.
Macron also emphasised the need for renewed national strength and independence, linking France’s future to a rapidly shifting global order. With wars continuing in Ukraine and Gaza, he reiterated France’s commitment to European security and called for “concrete” guarantees to protect Ukraine.
He announced that Paris would host a meeting of the so-called Coalition of the Willing on January 6, aimed at securing firm international commitments should any peace agreement with Russia be reached.
Turning to hope, Macron framed the coming year as a collective challenge. “Let’s not give up,” he said, adding: “For ourselves and our children, we will succeed.”
The president began his address by pushing back against calls for his resignation that followed a turbulent year in French politics. He pledged to remain fully engaged until the final day of his mandate.
“I will be at work until the very last second, striving each day to live up to the mandate you entrusted to me,” Macron said.
The year ahead will be Macron’s last full year in office before the 2027 presidential election, a vote he cannot contest after serving two consecutive terms. Polls suggest the far right could emerge victorious, adding urgency to his call for political stability.
Macron said he would do everything possible to ensure the election takes place calmly and without foreign interference.
At home, the president faces mounting criticism and deep political divisions. His third prime minister since last year’s snap parliamentary elections, Sébastien Lecornu, has struggled to pass an austerity budget through a fragmented and hung parliament. An emergency law was adopted last week to keep the government functioning.
Macron acknowledged the challenge, saying the government and parliament must quickly reach an agreement on a national budget. “From the very first weeks of the year now starting, government and parliament will have to come to an agreement to provide the nation with a budget,” he said. “It is essential.”
Public confidence, however, remains low. According to a recent Toluna/Harris Interactive poll for LCI, nearly two-thirds of French people did not plan to watch the annual address, while Macron’s approval rating has fallen to 25 percent, its lowest level since 2017.
Despite the headwinds, Macron closed his speech with a message of resolve, presenting 2026 as a decisive year for France’s unity at home and credibility abroad.