France rejects fear

The French roundly rejected the isolationism and fear-mongering of populist French candidate Marine Le Pen in the presidential election Sunday, re-embracing the European Union, the continent’s decades-old experiment in economic union, stability and peace, born out of the ashes of the Second World War. That’s good news. Centrist former economy minister Emmanuel Macron appeared to be on his way to an easy victory over Le Pen after voters overwhelmingly endorsed his promise of economic reform and a renewed commitment to making France competitive in the global economy. Le Pen, in contrast, had promised a Brexit-like referendum aimed at pulling France out of the EU and rejection of the euro.

The election was also the latest reckoning for an antiimmigrant fervour that has animated voters across Europe and America. In the final debate with Le Pen last week, Macron called her “the high priestess of fear.” Similar angst over globalization and the influx of “outsiders” was the driving force behind Britain’s vote last year to leave the EU and U.S. President Donald Trump’s surprise victory in November.

With victory in the presidential contest, Macron’s struggle has only just started. He leads a nation burdened with 10 per cent unemployment caused as much by a cumbersome social-welfare system and overregulated labour markets as by cutthroat international competition. And while the messenger of French populism has suffered a defeat, the underlying concerns about globalization and Muslim immigration remain potent forces.

When Macron takes office next week, he will be modern France’s youngest president. He faces stiff challenges immediately, but offers a far brighter alternative to the dark world of divisiveness and fear propagated by his now-vanquished opponent.