Would France have voted Leave too? Probably, admits Macron
FRANCE would ‘probably’ have voted to leave the EU if it had held a referendum, its president admitted yesterday.
Emmanuel Macron, who wants ever closer European integration, suggested that the UK backed Brexit because people who had lost out due to globalisation had ‘decided it was no more for them’.
He claimed that it had been ‘a mistake’ to ask the public a Yes or No question in a ‘very complicated context’.
He made the comments during a visit to Britain for crunch talks on defence and security with Theresa May.
Asked whether a Leave or Remain vote in France might have had the same result, Mr Macron said: ‘Yes, probably. Probably in a similar context. But our context was very different so I don’t want to take any bets.’
Interviewed on BBC One’s The Andrew Marr show, Mr Macron said he would fight ‘very hard’ to keep France in the EU if it ever had a referendum. He added: ‘It’s a mistake when you just ask “yes” or “no”, when you don’t ask people how to improve the situation and to explain how to improve it.
‘You always take a risk when you have such a referendum, just yes or no in a very complicated context.’
Mr Macron attributed the UK’s decision to leave to voters’ loss of faith in globalisation and unrestricted free markets.
His comments came as it emerged that a YouGov poll showed 5 per cent of people believed Britain was right to vote for Brexit, up three points. This compared to
per cent who believed it was wrong, down two points. It was the first time since July 2017 that ‘right’ had been ahead.
Last night Tory MPs accused the leader of denying people their democratic rights.
Jacob Rees-Mogg said: ‘It is a reminder that the European project is not based on consent but on the almost religious belief in the ideal of the EU.’ Andrew Bridgen added: ‘That explains why the French elite will not give the people the “Frexit” vote.’
FOR all his easy charm, Emmanuel Macron showed himself yesterday to be a fully paid-up member of Europe’s aloof and imperious political elite.
The French president admitted his country would ‘probably’ vote to leave the EU if they were given a referendum. But will he allow them to have their say? Of course not. He is committed to EU membership and doesn’t want the voters rocking the boat.
But perhaps he should be careful. Historically the French people have not taken kindly to being denied their democratic rights.