The short sentences of Emmanuel de Macron are back. The head of state, who sparked controversy in 2018 by telling a young horticulturist looking for work that all he had to do was “cross the street” to find work, persisted on Monday, on the sidelines of a trip in Marseilles: “When I was younger, I used to say that you had to cross the street. This is even more true today than yesterday,” he argued.

The president was arrested during a walkabout by a lady deploring that her 33-year-old son no longer receives active solidarity income. “He owes 11 months rent now. He can’t even go and get a job” because “he has no money to take transport”, she said apologetically, shaking Emmanuel Macron’s hand.

?? “I’m going around the Old Port tonight with you, I’m sure there are 10 job offers” In Marseille, Emmanuel Macron responds to a lady who questions him about his son’s professional situation pic.twitter.com/TOdWxsdF6V

Emphasizing that there were “support devices” to “get to work,” the president questioned her in return: “What does your son want to work in? […] He is ready to work as a waiter? “Any…everything!” replied his interlocutor.

“You’re not going to make me believe that if he’s really looking for a job in Marseille, and he’s willing to take a waiter job, that there’s no waiter job,” shifted The head of state. Insisting: “I promise you: I’m going around the Old Port tonight [Monday] with you, I’m sure there are 10 job offers. “He’s going to see one of my associates.” And tonight [Monday], he has an appointment for a job, ”promised the president again.

In May, during a trip to Dunkirk, Emmanuel Macron had already suggested to a young man that it was enough to “go a meter” to find a job.

This new outing by the President of the Republic on the theme immediately made the opposition react, like the leader of the Insoumis deputies Mathilde Panot, who considered that “Macron caricatures Macron”.

Macron cartoon Macron. The solution to unemployment? Crossing a street in 2018. Doing one meter in May 2023. It’s time to take a tour of the Old Port in June 2023. Faced with the contempt of the people, the only unemployed person we hope for in the country is Emmanuel Macron! https://t.co/VAzrgkAyuC

“The solution to unemployment? Crossing a street in 2018. Doing one meter in May 2023. The time has come to take a tour of the Old Port in June 2023. Faced with the contempt of the people, the only unemployed person hoped for in the country is Emmanuel Macron,” she wrote on Twitter. Insoumis deputy Bastien Lachaud castigated the “old reactionary myth” of “millions of unfilled jobs”. “We are not dealing with a president, but with a crude provocateur who makes fun of the people. Unworthy,” he gritted.

As for Senator LR from Bouches-du-Rhône, Valérie Boyer, she quipped: “When Emmanuel Macron is no longer president, he could convert to an agent at Pôle emploi. »