Edouard Philippe visits Ardennes

Edouard Philippe, a former prime minister and current political candidate, visited Charleville-Mézières in the Ardennes region on October 21, 2026, to present his family policy proposals. The visit took place amid a social and political crisis that had started earlier that week.

Philippe's policy proposals

During the visit, Philippe spoke to about twenty parents in a children's library, outlining plans to support families and increase birth rates. He proposed a single family allowance that decreases from the first child, up to 350 euros, and a three-year income tax reduction for middle-class parents, up to 3,000 euros.

Housing and child care plans

Philippe also proposed a zero-interest loan for families needing to change their housing due to a new birth. He aimed to ensure all families could secure a daycare or nanny within a few months of a child's birth and considered a system to pay mothers 80% of their salary while they work 100% of their time.

Paternity leave and funding

Philippe mentioned a potential measure to make paternity leave mandatory, like in some neighboring countries, but said he was still deciding his stance. He emphasized that any benefits would need to be funded by working longer hours, stating, "I do not give away much for free."

Focus on security and order

Security and public order were key themes in Philippe's speech. He supported stricter penalties for vandals and looters, the use of facial recognition technology, and the "vandals-payers" law, which requires those who damage property to pay for repairs.

Criticism and commendation

Philippe criticized the decision to send the head of state on a trip to Gulf countries, calling it "not the most appropriate." However, he praised the government for recent efforts to mobilize resources to restore public order.