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Here is the Part II of the full content of the exchange between Emmanuel Macron and Claire Doole, which lasted 30 minutes on December 2, closing the Women's Forum, for Economy & Society in Deauville. The suspense of the arrival of Emmanuel Macron had glided during the two days of forum, before arriving at the podium, obviously very expected like a guest star, by these dealers women and the press
CD : And when will we be seeing some specific commitments like that? In a manifesto, shortly?
EM : Definitely.
CD : When?
EM : If I'm here today, it's definitely because I consider that this question is not just that box you have to tick in a political programme. I don't believe in one to two red measures in a programme. I will have a few commitments.
CD : Could you not give us a sneak preview? In front of these top women from around the world that want something concrete and specific. That's what we want, isn´t it?
EM : By the end of February, on this topic; you will have a strong commitment.
CD : February 28th, put it in your agenda! And of course, I have to ask you, because I asked Mr Kent, and we know that Justin is a self-declared feminist, you are a self-declared feminist, aren't you Mr Macron?
EM : I am. But for me, my first objective, is to be a feminist recognized by women, which is much more important. [...]
CD: Perhaps we should ask the question about the one billion women disempowered and who don't have access to international trade market. What can we do for those in the so- called OECD countries, developed world?
EM : [...] Beyond our countries, this issue is there, because it is unfair and inefficient for everybody. We intervened as Europeans in these countries, and I think this issue, empowerment of women and opportunities for women, has to be part of our criteria when we help these countries, when we provide subsidies. And today, in a very tiny part of our commitments, we take into consideration these criteria.
CD : Increasing overseas aid budget...
EM : Increasing, as well as changing the way to intervene in these countries. And I think the great opportunity we have in a lot of these countries is that entrepreneurship and state of mind is progressively changing as well ““ and very rapidly changing. Regarding this one billion mentioned by Arancha a few seconds ago, you have a lot of countries where traditionally, our countries just dealt with government, with great leaders, and insiders´ market I would say. And everything we discussed about was outsiders´ interests. And now insiders in our societies are just white men. Sometimes insiders are just a series of black men. The big question mark is how to give a voice, a representation, and defend interests for these outsiders. The way we start to take into consideration the outsiders´ issues in our interventions in these countries, in our subsidies, in our policies... You change everything! You reduce corruption, you increase control, you promote and accelerate entrepreneurship, and you accelerate the inclusivity of this entrepreneurship.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question 1 : Mr François Fillon who won the right-wing in the primary election has declared that he personally was against the right to abortion. Do you consider that Mr Fillon threatens women's rights if he is elected president?
Question 2 : Mr François Hollande gave up running for election yesterday, and he called for a gathering of all progressists, and you declare yourself as the representative of all progressists. Your presence today is another proof of that. Do you consider yourself as the best capable representative to lead this group of progressists?
EM : As for your first question, it was a big debate in the campaign of the primary elections for the rightist party. I will not comment on personal behaviours and so on. I do hope, and I do think that François Fillon doesn't envisage modifying any law regarding the abortion, for sure, and he confirmed that. So I will not comment on personal remarks and so on. All the progressists and I are deeply involved to preserve this right and I think there is now a strong consensus in our society, obviously, to protect this right and to improve conditions in different neighbourhoods in France for women to precisely have the right to access abortion practices. Because, once again, it is not just a question of legislation or law, that's a question of assessment of reality and actual conditions for a lot of women in our country.
As for your second question, I took my decision largely before president Hollande´s decision and announcement. Indeed, he made an appeal and a call for a gathering of all the progressists. I noticed like you this word, “progressists“, because that's the one I used. I do hope that a lot of people will listen to this call, because progressists are those who believe in innovation, in gender equality, in environment, and digital, in equity and equal opportunities in our society and in Europe. And when you look at these values, there is a deep shift today on the left and on the right sides, because there is a lot of people in the rightist party who don't share this view, but a lot of them do share this view and are not properly represented by their candidate today, and it will be exactly the same case tomorrow in the left-wing. So my ambition is not to reform our organization, but to propose a new project, precisely around these values, and a clear progressist vision.
Question 3 : Mr Macron, do you think we should create a role such as the one of the minister [for the status of women], should you be elected?
EM : That's already the case. We had in our past this kind of job, I do believe, for the same issue. Not a minister to pass new laws, but a minister to report to the Prime Minister to check and precisely to be sure that behaviours are changing and practices are changing, so yes.
Question 4 : ... I've noticed that in France in general there is a lack of gender studies, even in high school, as compared to my colleagues who are studying in Vancouver or Montreal. Are you gonna do any change in gender studies? Because I think education is what will change the mindset of the people that we live with, the people that we study with. Is that on the plan at all?
EM : I don't have a clear view about that to be fair with you. I am not a big fan... When I travelled obviously I followed some gender studies lessons, especially in the Anglo-Saxon universities where it's properly organized. I think it should be part of the other aspect of all education. It should indeed change the programme, and be part of history, philosophy lessons and so on. I am not totally sure I'm a big fan of gender studies, or gender studies as a specific organization within the university of Sciences Po, I have to say. First because, that's not in our culture in France, which doesn't mean that we don't respect and we don't have the willingness to change things, unconscious biases, and change the organization and when you look basically at women participation and so on, you see that there is not an issue regarding that in France. But I'm not a big fan of creating gender studies in France to be fair. I don't want to commit myself on something I am not clear on and I am not totally convinced by.../
