Emmanuel Macron’s televised New Year’s address to the French people, December 31, 2025. STEPHANIE LECOCQ / REUTERS
In his New Year’s Eve address for 2026 on Wednesday, December 31, Emmanuel Macron stuck to a smooth, uncontroversial speech. After eight years in office, the fatigue of presidential rhetoric has become evident – even at the Elysée. The brevity of the address spoke for itself: barely 10 minutes, a first since 2017.
Sitting in the Salon des Ambassadeurs at the Palais de l’Elysée, close to a Christmas tree and a few lit candles, the president devoted the first minute of his address to expressing compassion and support for “those who ensure the continuity of the nation.” He also aligned himself with those experiencing “doubt” and “anger,” as if in response to critics who accuse him of being out of touch with the struggles facing the French.
Macron also sought to avoid two pitfalls. He chose not to discuss his record after eight years in power, refusing to give the impression that Macronism was already a thing of the past. Nor did he use his address to launch any new initiatives amid an unprecedented political instability under the Fifth Republic. “He really is in an inextricable situation. His image is very, very damaged, and there’s the end-of-term effect: He’s on his way out,” commented a minister from Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s government.
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