The Week (April 25)
Emmanuel Macron may have “roundly defeated the right-wing antiliberal candidate Marine Le Pen in the second round of France’s presidential election,” but this is no time for complacency. “Placed in the broader historical context… the battle in France between liberals and antiliberals, center and periphery, is far from over. Indeed, if recent trends continue, the likelihood of a defeat for the center and triumph of the antiliberal right or left will continue to rise, with one of the extremes running a good chance of prevailing in the coming years.”
Tags: Antiliberal, Center, Complacency, Defeated, France, Historical context, Le Pen, Liberals, Macron, Periphery, Presidential election, Right wing
BBC (January 2)
“France’s transport strike against pension reform has entered its 29th day, making it the longest rail workers’ strike since May 1968.” Even though a majority of the French population supports President Macron’s pension reforms, plans call for additional disruption. “Union leaders have called for a day of mass protests on 9 January. A new blockade of petrol facilities, including refineries, petrol terminals and depots, is also planned on 7 January for 96 hours until 10 January.”
Tags: Blockade, Disruption, France, Macron, Pension reform, Petrol, Protests, Rail workers, Refineries, Strike, Transport
New York Times (December 6)
“If Emmanuel Macron survives this crisis, something good may come out of it. He, along with French and European elites, could draw the lesson from the revolt of the Yellow Vests and find a way to govern with the people, not against them. That is, after all, what democracy is about.”
Tags: Crisis, Democracy, Elites, Europe, France, Govern, Macron, People, Revolt, Survives, Yellow Vests
CNN (April 26)
“It looked like a Mission Impossible…. For Emmanuel Macron, capturing Trump’s heart risked turning the rest of the world’s stomachs.” But somehow he did it. He even addressed a joint session of Congress, giving “a masterful performance” while “tackling a nearly impossible mission. No wonder the entire Congress gave him a lengthy standing ovation.”
Tags: Congress, Joint session, Macron, Masterful, Mission Impossible, Ovation, Trump
The Independent (April 8)
“As the international swooning over the young, vigorous and cool French President Emmanuel Macron continues almost unabated, a dissident voice has piped up that will play well for this (so far) very lucky politician.” Very few French are likely to side with Nicolas Maduro, the Venezuelan president, who called Macron a wimp and a hit man, and also alleged he was destroying France.
The Economist (September 30)
“Who leads Europe? At the start of this year, the answer was obvious. Angela Merkel…. This week, it all looks very different.” Post election, Germany’s leader stands greatly reduced. In contrast, “France’s President Emmanuel Macron is bursting with ambition.” Whether he will be able to “restore France to centre-stage in the EU after a decade in the chorus depends not just on his plans for Europe, but also on his success at home, reforming a country long seen as unreformable.”
The Guardian (May 7)
“Like someone who has narrowly escaped a heart attack, Europe can raise a glass and give thanks for the victory of Emmanuel Macron. But the glass is less than half full, and if Europe doesn’t change its ways it will only have postponed the fateful day.”
Tags: Change, Europe, Fateful day, Macron, Narrow escape, Postpone, Victory
