Macron to stipulate imaginative and prescient for unbiased, ‘stronger Europe’ in keynote speech | EUROtoday

Issued on: 25/04/2024 – 03:56

2 min

Macron is returning to the identical themes of a speech he gave in September 2017 months after taking workplace on the identical location — the Sorbonne University in Paris — however in a context that seven years on has been turned the other way up by Brexit, Covid, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Macron champions the idea of European strategic autonomy in economic system and defence, arguing that Europe must face crises like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with out counting on the United States.

He can be, after Brexit and the departure from energy of German chancellor Angela Merkel, typically seen by commentators as Europe’s primary chief.

But his occasion is dealing with embarrassment in June European elections, rating nicely behind the far-right in opinion polls and even risking coming third behind the Socialists.

“To continue moving towards a more sovereign and more powerful Europe… the president will deliver his views for the future of Europe,” the French presidency stated.

The speech comes with the European Union drawing up its new strategic agenda for 2024-2029.

“Europe accelerates in times of crisis so it’s a good moment to make suggestions,” stated a French presidential official asking to not be named.

Macron will even be conscious of the danger of antagonising allies, particularly Germany, which is extra lukewarm on European strategic autonomy and was particularly rattled by Macron not ruling out sending Western troops to Ukraine.

‘Reclaim initiative’

Surveys for the June 9 EU parliament elections in France level to help solely within the excessive teenagers for Macron’s centrist coalition, nicely beneath the far-right National Rally (RN) at round 30 p.c, whereas the Socialists are snapping on the presidential camp’s heels for second place.

“It would be a real earthquake if the president’s majority came third” within the European elections, stated political scientist Bruno Cautres.

The head of the governing occasion’s checklist for the elections, the little-known Valerie Hayer, is failing to make an impression, particularly within the face of high-profile figures main the rival lists within the form of Jordan Bardella, 28, for the far proper and Raphael Glucksmann for the left.

The reputation of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, 35, whose appointment in January was seen as a transfer to counter Bardella, is in the meantime on the wane.

But now it seems Macron is raring to wade into the marketing campaign in particular person together with his speech, which he is because of ship from 0900 GMT.

The home stakes are excessive: the RN has stated it can name for parliament to be dissolved if Macron’s ruling Renaissance occasion and its allies undergo a crushing defeat.

Meanwhile, the EU polls additionally include RN figurehead Marine Le Pen sensing her best-ever probability to win the Elysee within the 2027 presidential elections when Macron can’t stand once more.

On Thursday, Macron “wants to reclaim the initiative, avoid humiliation and try to keep the number-two spot at any cost,” Cautres stated, noting that there was little hope his occasion might overtake the RN.

(AFP)