French President Emmanuel Macron's willingness to listen to his people and curtail his arrogance raises doubts, French journalist Gilbert Mercier told, commenting on the president's national debate initiative. Dubbing the idea a "political theatre", the journalist opined that Macron's only option is to follow General de Gaulle's example.

Axar.az reports citing French media.

French President Emmanuel Macron's "grand national debate" is largely a PR stunt, and an attempt to diffuse a wave of protests which is not fading away, says Gilbert Mercier, a French journalist, serving as the editor-in-chief of the News Junkie Post and the author of "The Orwellian Empire".

"If you wish, it is political theatre, to show 'his people' that he is willing to listen," Mercier told Sputnik. "However, the way it has been choreographed, shows that Macron is planning to do most of the talking, or at least direct the debate, listen to other elected officials, but certainly not open the debate directly with any Gilets Jaunes".

On 13 January Macron announced a three-month national debate in his letter to the people of France.