Macron’s pro-europe vision fades
Populist parties gain ground as continental vote nears
PARIS— French President Emmanuel Macron sees himself as Europe’s savior, with this week’s European Parliament elections as a make-or-break moment for the beleaguered European Union.
But Macron is no longer the fresh-faced force who marched into a surprising presidential victory to the rhythm of the EU anthem two years ago. His pro-europe vision has collided with national interests across the continent. At home, his pro-business policies have given rise to France’s yellow vest uprising.
Macron wanted the May 23-26 European Parliament elections to push his ambition for a stronger Europe — but instead, nationalists and populists who blame the 28-nation bloc for piles of problems could achieve unprecedented success. They argue that elitist EU leaders have failed to manage migration and remain out of touch with ordinary workers’ concerns.
“We have a crisis of the European Union. This is a matter of fact. Everywhere in Europe … all the extremes, extreme-rights, are increasing,” Macron said Thursday, making an unexpected appeal for European unity on the sidelines of a technology trade show.
“On currency, on digital, on climate action, we need more Europe,” he said.
Macron, 41, already has visited 20 of the EU’S 28 countries in his two years in office, and while he acknowledges the EU’S problems, he says they can only be solved by fixing the bloc — not disassembling it.
Four months after his election, Macron outlined his vision for Europe in a sweeping speech at Paris’ Sorbonne university, calling for a joint EU budget, shared military forces and harmonized taxes.
But with Brexit looming and nationalism rising, Macron has had to reconsider his ambitions. He calls his political tactics with other EU leaders a “productive confrontation.” That has strained the Franco-german ties that underpin the EU.
Macron has little chance to repeat Europe-wide what he did in France: rip up the political map by building a powerful centrist movement that weakened the traditional left and right.
Macron’s political opponents across the spectrum are calling on French voters to seize the European elections to reject his government’s policies.
At a farmer’s market in southern Paris on Sunday, several shoppers said they’d vote for Macron’s party, but few exhibited enthusiasm.
Part-time construction worker
Marc Lambert said that despite tax breaks and other gestures by Macron to quell yellow vest anger, the president “still hasn’t understood. He is in his bubble” of rich friends and start-up entrepreneurs. Lambert said Macron failed to convince regular people that “Europe is the solution.”