Is Macron France's Maggie?

[Borghetto]

Derek Smith said:

I know it is easy to pick apart political predictions but that's no reason not to do so. Everything he said would happen didn't. Further, to suggest that Macron will not be reelected in four years' time is a bit of a hail Mary.

I think you'll find the Presidential term is 5 years. The European elections are far more likely to show up his unpopularity.

[Derek Smith]

Borghetto said:

Derek Smith said:

I know it is easy to pick apart political predictions but that's no reason not to do so. Everything he said would happen didn't. Further, to suggest that Macron will not be reelected in four years' time is a bit of a hail Mary.

I think you'll find the Presidential term is 5 years. The European elections are far more likely to show up his unpopularity.

I've been criticised for being pedantic, although it's improper use of the word. However, you take it to a higher level. So 3 years, 5 months and some days.

Whilst I agree that the European elections will be seen by many as a time to show dissatisfaction, he'll ignore it. He'll suggest a protest vote against people paying taxes. A week's a long time in politics; the time he's got leaves him ample opportunity to turn this around.

[BlackLabel]

Wonder if Gary and co still want to borrow him?

[RJG46]

Troubleatmill said:

BlackLabel said:

'Get a degree and learn to feed yourself after you've paid off the 30 Grand debt.

Hats off.

Now... Can you imagine Corbyn in the same situation?

At least Corbyn isn't a Granny fker.

[Murph7355]

BlackLabel said:

Wonder if Gary and co still want to borrow him?

Was Lineker meaning as a co-presenter on MoTD?

[Thom]

Derek Smith said:

For the OP's original question; I think Macron might be more like de Gaul than Thatcher.

De Gaulle was very much pro state control and did as much as possible to allow France to remain independent from foreign interests on as many areas as possible. Macron is the polar opposite.

[Derek Smith]

Thom said:

De Gaulle was very much pro state control and did as much as possible to allow France to remain independent from foreign interests on as many areas as possible. Macron is the polar opposite.

I meant more along the lines of arrogant, self-confident and little concerned with what anyone else wanted. Or needed.

[Lucas Ayde]

Halb said:

He's a puppet of the big banks?

He's an ex Rothschild banker.

[tigerkoi]

Lucas Ayde said:

Halb said:

He's a puppet of the big banks?

He's an ex Rothschild banker.

There are the big banks - JPM, Citi, BofA, HSBC etc - and there’s the likes of Lazard and Rothschilds & Evercore etc. The latter aren’t “big banks” as such, and to make it there is often very different from say, a muddling senior MD plugging on, renumerated with deep six figures at a High Street brand. The sort who get into a Lazard or wherever are either fiercely connected at the highest levels, sub par scions of some well known dynasty (declining in line with our western meritocratic ways ) or just plain good. Macron is a smart guy, but he hasn’t done enough to change the public narrative that he’s some ‘banker’ and in more just a flighty personality who wants ultimate power in the shortest hops.

But Macron, “Jupiterian” in his own mind has buggered up his early presidency and it looks a precarious. In this era of disruption, unlike Trump who stealthed his way through the Republican shindigs and ended up on top, Macron created a political party from scratch, En Marche, and through eye catching promises and a winner’s smile, only had to be the alternative to a clown like Le Pen to get the big chair.

But whilst El Marche upended the existing regime status, it’s very immaturity at grassroots, heavy with strategists and advisors swarming around Macron but light with long term supporters in the regions....means that it doesn’t really have any gravity. Something like out of 35,000 communes in France, only a handful have a El Marche man/woman. There’s no anchor with the common man, and in the world outside the Élysée Palace, there’s disconnect.

Macron, like Trump understood the discord enough in his and many western countries, that he knew how to grab power, but ironically it’s his very disconnect with the ongoing discenchantment that could see him out on his backside. The Fifth Republic inveigled the Presidents position with enormous power - not even rivalled by a US presidents ability to Executive Order his/her way along. But Macron looks the most tightly forced PofF in recent times, simply by his own (in)actions.

[BlackLabel]

Will be interesting to see what his next move is.

“PARIS (Reuters) - Emmanuel Macron intended to start the new year on the offensive against the ‘yellow vest’ protesters. Instead, the French president is reeling from more violent street demonstrations.

What began as a grassroots rebellion against diesel taxes and the high cost of living has morphed into something more perilous for Macron - an assault on his presidency and French institutions.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-protests...

[anonymous-user]

From the Reuters article,

Twenty-four hours later, he was fleeing his office out of a back door as protesters invaded the courtyard and smashed up several cars. “It wasn’t me who was attacked,” he later said. “It was the Republic.”

Yeah right!

[BlackLabel]

Still as unpopular as ever.

[E34-3.2]

I think that it is very fashionable to say you don't like Macron at the moment.

[J B L]

25% in a country where people have the choice between at least 4 or 5 major parties and another 4 or 5 minor ones seems a very good score to me.

Assuming the 75% who disapprove have something so much better to look at offered by the opposition!?

[TEKNOPUG]

The French always vote for change and then riot when change happens. C'est la vie.