Faisait prendre au pays

Question

Can some help me further please . Today in the news, Lionel Jospin, the ancien premier ministre said: "Le president pouvait se donner le temps de peser les risques qu'il (faisait prendre au pays)". Is faire prendre a locution? in word reference, I can't see it mentioned. Are there any lessons on faire usage as locution. thanks for your help.

Accepted Answer

Mo, 
I think this is the lesson you are looking for, and a link to further material by Laura Lawless.
https://progress.lawlessfrench.com/revision/grammar/faire-plus-infinitive-means-to-have-something-done 
https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/faire-causative/

Answer

Maarten: Thanks for your answer. What does it mean( Faire prendre au pays). I am thinking inflicting it along these lines. Any idea ?any reference ? Thanks.

Answer

Mo,

in English I would translate this as something like “ The president could have given himself time to weigh up (consider) the risk(s) he was placing the country at/putting the country in “. Less colloquial English (in my view) but perhaps a more direct translation could be ‘…. making the country take ‘.

The idea here, I think, is that the former premier minister wishes to convey that he does not see this (just) as a risk that Macron is taking personally, in the context of recent commentary that has talked about ‘ Macron’s risk ‘ in calling the early elections ( whilst he himself is not facing the voters for re-election ).

I am in France at the moment ( was also here for a set of general elections previously ) - interesting experiences, to say the least !

Answer

Worrying experience I would say. Thanks for your explanations. Have a good time in France.