Emmanuel Maurel, a candidate in the Socialist Party’s presidential primary, has proposed a "national investment loan" to finance France's ecological transition and infrastructure development. During an appearance on Public Sénat this Monday, Maurel stressed the importance of "massive investment" as the core of his political platform. His goals include "decarbonizing" the economy, successfully achieving the ecological transition, and reducing regional inequalities. He criticized the current government for being "indifferent" to the need for a 54 billion euro investment, suggesting that the government has not adequately responded to the scale of the challenge. Maurel, a founding member of the Republican and Socialist Left, opposed the creation of energy shields—temporary measures to protect consumers from rising energy prices—every time a crisis arises. He referenced the energy price spikes during the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, arguing that such measures are not sustainable. Instead, he supported "emergency measures" like a regularly renegotiated "price cap" on energy distributors and a reduced VAT on electricity. He estimated that such policies would cost five billion euros but would help maintain purchasing power for French citizens while promoting the shift toward electrification. In addition to economic policies, Maurel called for "deglobalization" to reduce France’s dependence on global markets and move away from a "society of everything for sale, everything disposable." He advocated for a different system and development model, one focused on sustainability and long-term stability. He expressed disappointment with the five-year term of former President François Hollande and was "bewildered" by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a fellow leftist leader with whom he had previously been closer. He also criticized the budget proposed by Minister Sébastien Lecornu as "obviously not votable," although he did not push for a formal censure of the government. Other candidates in the Socialist Party’s primary include Raphaël Glucksmann (Place Publique), Olivier Faure, Ségolène Royal, and Jérôme Guedj (PS). Maurel described the current political climate as a crisis, acknowledging it is "difficult for people" but also seeing it as an opportunity for political leaders to "change policy" and offer new solutions to France’s challenges.