Khaberni - French President Emmanuel Macron appeared wearing a steel industry worker's outfit during a visit to an industrial site, in a photo that some saw as a message of support for the re-industrialization process in France, while others considered it a media stunt that does not actually reflect reality.
The moment came during Macron's inauguration on Tuesday of a new electric furnace at the ArcelorMittal factory in Dunkirk, where French caricaturist Chaunu, known for his daily satirical comments on French and international affairs in the "West-France" newspaper, depicted the president in this outfit.
The French newspaper noted that the visit carries strong symbolic meanings within the context of the environmental transformation that France is striving for, but it also opens the door to questions about the industrial sector's ability to fulfill its climate commitments amid existing challenges.
The economic writer Charles Senna commented sarcastically on the scene, saying that he prefers to see the "Mozart of finance" in a country burdened with debt, impersonating "Top Gun" with Tom Cruise's sunglasses, rather than appearing with a helmet pouring steel.
He added in a mocking tone that wearing the helmet and white suit offers a "special appeal" but in his view, it does not constitute sufficient evidence of actual reindustrialization on the ground.
Senna believes that rebuilding the steel sector seems a logical step, as steel represents a fundamental pillar for any industrial economy, whether in construction and public works or in the automotive industry.
However, he points out contradictions in economic policies, discussing the European environmental regulations, high environmental charges, and taxes imposed on companies, such as the tax on company cars, which, in his opinion, reduce car production and raise their prices, negatively reflecting on the industry instead of supporting it.
In the same context, the ArcelorMittal group announced an investment of 1.3 billion euros to decarbonize its site in Dunkirk, which is considered the most polluting in France.
This step is progress in the path to reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the industrial sector, especially in the steel industry, which is considered one of the most energy-intensive activities and produces significant emissions.
However, this announcement, despite its importance, does not negate the magnitude of the existing challenge, as the latest data indicates that industrial emissions in France have only decreased by 1.4% in 2024, a rate far from the pace required to achieve national climate goals.
