Emmanuel Macron has vowed to end France's state of emergency 'this autumn' in a speech at the palace of Versailles, reports The Telegraph.
"I will re-establish the freedoms of the French people by lifting the state of emergency this autumn, because these freedoms are the precondition of the existence of a strong democracy," Mr Macron said in an address to both houses of parliament.
The French president used the opulent palace to present a roadmap of his five-year presidency to lawmakers from both houses of parliament, in a ceremony some opponents decried as "monarchical".
Mr Macron also said he would rely on a referendum to push through his flagship reforms if parliament failed to do so in one year.
Mr Macron is not the first French leader to hold a so-called Congress, though past presidents have tended to use the address in times of crisis or constitutional reforms. France's youngest leader since Napoleon wants it to be an annual feature of his presidency.
"He is going to put in perspective his actions for the next five years, and even beyond that," an aide to the president told Reuters.
Mr Macron's aides also say that by convening parliament's 925 lawmakers to the 17th century palace built outside Paris by Louis XIV - the 'Sun King' - the president is seeking to restore old-fashioned grandeur to the role, his aides say.
Mr Macron wants to embody a "Jupiterian" vision of the presidency - whereby the president, very much like the Roman god of gods, speaks rarely except to issue orders.
That is in sharp contrast with his predecessor, François Hollande, who strived to be seen as "Mr Normal".
While many in France still hold dear the display of presidential power, Mr Macron's style has grated with others who lament the strong powers the constitution drawn up by war hero Charles de Gaulle bestows on the presidency.
A commanding majority in parliament comprised of dozens of legislators who are new to politics has tightened Mr Macron's grip further still.