"40 years of malaise" "I understand I have hurt you with some of my statements" "We will respond to the economic and social urgency with strong measures, by cutting taxes more rapidly, by keeping our spending under control, but not with U-turns" From French President Emmanuel Macron's Speech 12/10/2018 France's left-wing political leader Jean-Luc Melenchon called Macron's speech one of "good intentions".