What hides the challenge between Macron and Le Pen in France
Federico Guiglia's notebook
We vote in France , but this time the outcome will have more repercussions in Brussels than in Paris. And the first round is already an omen: according to the polls at the exit of the polling stations, the forecast of a duel between the outgoing president, Emmanuel Macron, and the main antagonist, Marine Le Pen, is confirmed. A duel that, depending on how the ballot ends in two weeks, could break the European equilibrium.
Both aspirants to the Elysée have a certain idea of France, that is, under the banner of an anachronistic "grandeur". But only one of the two – President Macron – is also an outspoken pro-European, who helped align the EU with Ukraine in Putin's war. And that has mended a special relationship with our country, sealed by the Quirinal Treaty in 2021. Its reconfirmation would be a guarantee, for Europe and for Italy, that there is no going back.
What about Marine Le Pen? Over the years, especially the last ones, his political evolution is recognized by the same and many opponents. From the original far-right Front National, the candidate, who is presenting herself for the third time to the judgment of the French, has changed the name of the party, after having ousted her cumbersome father and founder, Jean-Marie. And to the right of Marine today Eric Zemmour, a character even more radical than her, presented himself in the elections.
But even if the tones have softened over time and the legitimacy of French society towards it has expanded to the point of making it anti-Macron (also due to the errors and a certain detachment from the "people's problems" reproached to the president), Marine Le Pen claims a populism and sovereignty that are badly reconciled with the EU and its most urgent problem: how to stop the war.
Until yesterday Le Pen gave Putin a lot of political credit. So much so that, to avoid misunderstandings and the risk of not getting to the ballot, he sent hundreds of thousands of leaflets to shredder that portrayed her with him.
However, the idea of a strategic opening to Russia on the wave of the line – now reneged – inaugurated by Germany, its lukewarm Atlanticism, protectionism in economics and the "French first" as a reference ideology (ancient is its relationship with Salvini), place it far from the "political families" that lead the EU.
The French enigma facing the new course of Europe which, due to war, is now more united and in solidarity: the stakes are great.
Published in The Arena of Verona, Il Giornale di Vicenza and Bresciaoggi
Federico Guiglia
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/mondo/cosa-cela-la-sfida-tra-macron-e-le-pen-in-francia/ on Sat, 16 Apr 2022 05:41:22 +0000.