French President Emmanuel Macron has declared that France has no intention of sparking a third world war in its support for Ukraine against Russia’s invasion, even as he suggested possible new military discussions with European allies and called for national referendums on key reforms.
Speaking in a marathon televised interview on Tuesday, Macron addressed a wide range of domestic and international issues, outlining his vision for the remaining two years of his presidency. The French leader, who assumed office in 2017 and is currently in his second and final term, reaffirmed his commitment to helping Ukraine while emphasising the importance of avoiding global escalation.
“We must help Ukraine defend itself but we do not want to unleash a Third World War,” Macron stated during the over three-hour-long broadcast. “The war must cease and Ukraine must be in the best possible situation to go into negotiations,” he added.
In a significant foreign policy signal, Macron revealed that France is willing to engage in discussions with other European nations about the possible deployment of French warplanes equipped with nuclear weapons on allied territories — a move currently mirrored by the United States in several European countries.
“The Americans have the bombs on planes in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Turkey,” Macron said. “We are ready to open this discussion. I will define the framework in a very specific way in the weeks and months to come,” he said.
This renewed assertiveness marks a political shift for Macron, who had been perceived by some observers as a “lame duck” following last year’s failed gamble on snap legislative elections. The election outcome left the far-right as the dominant force in parliament, reducing Macron’s Renaissance party to a minority. However, the president has regained some political momentum in recent months, particularly on the international stage, as he actively seeks a resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
During the interview, Macron also engaged with a diverse range of citizens and stakeholders, including Sophie Binet, the head of the hardline CGT union, and popular fitness influencer Tibo Inshape. In response to Binet’s concerns about job losses at ArcelorMittal, the president ruled out nationalising the company’s French operations but pledged to protect its two plants in France.
Amid growing domestic challenges, Macron unveiled plans to hold a series of referendums on key economic and social reforms. He did not provide specific topics but indicated that multiple votes would be held on the same day in the coming months.
“I want us to organise a series of consultations,” he said, explaining that the votes would focus on “major” reforms. He also welcomed a proposal from Prime Minister Francois Bayrou to include a referendum on reducing France’s public debt.
Other potential topics for referendum could include access to social media platforms for children under 15 and assisted dying. However, Macron firmly rejected calls from the political right and far-right to hold a referendum on immigration policy.
On cultural issues, Macron reiterated his opposition to the display of religious symbols, such as the Islamic veil, during sports competitions. However, he clarified that decisions regarding non-competitive sports should be left to individual sports federations.
“Tackling delicate social issues,” Macron emphasised, “the wearing of religious symbols in sports competitions” should not be allowed, but added that for non-competitive activities, it was “up to sports federations to decide.”
At 47, Macron is constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term and will leave office in 2027. Nonetheless, French law allows for a possible return in 2032 — a path no former president has taken. Addressing the possibility of a political comeback, Macron said his focus remains solely on the current term.
“When I’m done (with the current term), I’ll think about what’s next. Then I’ll be able to answer you. But today, I haven’t thought about it,” he concluded.
