Renaissance (RE), formerly known as La République En Marche (LREM), is a centrist and liberal political party in France, established by Emmanuel Macron in 2016. The party underwent a rebranding to Renaissance in 2022 to signify a new phase in its political journey, emphasizing enlightenment and renewal over traditional politics.
Renaissance advocates for free market principles, economic reforms, and modernization of the French economy. This includes labor market flexibility, reducing public spending, and promoting entrepreneurship.
The party balances its economic liberalism with a strong commitment to social justice and environmental sustainability. It supports policies aimed at reducing inequality, enhancing social safety nets, and promoting green energy and environmental initiatives.
Renaissance is pro-European Union and focuses on strengthening European integration and cooperation. Macron's presidency has been marked by efforts to solidify France's role within the EU, advocating for a more unified and powerful European political structure.
One of the most contentious issues has been Macron's proposal to reform the pension system. This plan aims to unify the numerous pension schemes into a single system and raise the retirement age, a policy that has faced significant public resistance and sparked widespread protests.
The party has taken a centrist approach to immigration, aiming to balance humanitarian responsibilities with national security concerns. Recent legislative efforts have focused on stricter immigration controls while ensuring integration policies for new immigrants.
Renaissance seeks to build broad coalitions to pass its legislative agenda, often working with other centrist and center-right parties. This includes forming alliances with parties like MoDem and Horizons to strengthen its position in the French Parliament and ensure a collaborative approach to governance.
The party faces significant challenges, including dealing with public discontent over economic reforms and maintaining its political relevance post-Macron. With Macron unable to run for a third term, Renaissance will need to redefine its identity and leadership to continue its political momentum beyond 2027.
The Renaissance is also known as Re, Renaissance.