Radical centrism sweeps France

In a year of popular revolts against Western political establishments, none has been more sweeping than that of France.

In the first round of parliamentary elections on Sunday, the two parties that have dominated the political system since 1958 suffered devastating losses, while a new movement, founded only 14 months ago, appeared to be on its way to capturing up to three-quarters of the National Assembly. Like its leader, President Emmanuel Macron, nearly half the candidates of the Republic on the Move party had never run for public office.

Half are women, and the average age is under 50.

The most remarkable fact about France’s new leadership, however, is its politics — which is neither the left-wing populism of Bernie Sanders and Jeremy Corbyn nor the right-wing version offered by President Donald Trump and Marine Le Pen. Macron espouses what he calls “radical centrism” - a pragmatic approach to tackling the structural problems that have held back France for decades, along with a similar commitment to unstick the floundering European Union. If it works, it could revitalize European global leadership at a time when the United States under Trump looks erratic and unreliable.

When Macron, a 39-yearold former banker, easily won a runoff against Le Pen in May, many analysts dismissed his chances of winning a parliamentary majority — much less a supermajority - with his newly formed party. But Macron has been pitch-perfect during his first month in office. He made a show of standing up to Trump at a NATO summit and days later did the same to Russia’s Vladimir Putin. He recruited a leading center-right politician to be his prime minister and surrounded him with a cabinet that transcended partisan lines.

True, turnout in the parliamentary vote was low by French standards - under 50 percent and nearly half of voters backed extreme candidates of the right or left just seven weeks ago in the presidential election’s first round. But Macron clearly has momentum to push ahead with his ambitious reform plan.

Macron’s labor reform, which he hopes to enact in July, would make it easier and less expensive for companies to hire and fire workers. Past attempts to tackle the labor code have triggered massive demonstrations and strikes, and probably will again. But many French have had enough of an unemployment rate that is just barely below 10 percent - more than twice the German level. Other reforms would cut government spending and corporate taxes.

After Germany’s election in September, Macron will seek to revitalize the partnership of Paris and Berlin. He wants to take bold steps to stabilize the euro, such as establishing a common investment fund and even a euro-area treasury and parliament. If she is reelected, German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be skeptical, but she should listen. If radical centrism fails in France, it is likely to be supplanted by radical populism.

CHRISTOPHE ENA — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Then-French centrist presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron thumbs up as he addresses his supporters at his election day headquarters in Paris.