how Washington, Moscow and Beijing look at the earthquake of the European elections

In the United States, some see the French results of the European elections as the beginnings of the scenario for the next presidential election. In Russia, the defeat of the majority is compared to Napoleon’s Berezina, while in China the mysteries of European politics seem more distant.

After the earthquake of the European elections and the dissolution of the national assembly in France, how do foreign capitals analyze the situation? Overview.

In the United States: a situation which foreshadows the American electoral landscape

For Washington, this election is not a simple thunderclap, but the crucible of a new lasting political era for the West. “Far-right Europe is here to stay” writing the Washington Post. The difficulties of social democratic leaders in providing a bulwark against the European far right echo Joe Biden’s fight against the Trumpist movement.

Commentators explain that the former American president and the Republican camp feel encouraged by the result of the 2024 European elections as they were by the victory of the ultraliberal Javier Milei in Argentina.

Breitbartthe conspiracy media founded by Steeve Bannon, former advisor to Donald Trump, goes even further, almost triumphantly, convinced that this global momentum against globalism foreshadows the future American electoral landscape… A bit like the success of the Brexit referendum had preceded Trump’s victory in 2016.

The media still do not understand the French president’s decision to dissolve the National Assembly. “Macron makes a huge bet“, writes Roger Cohen in particular in the New York Times. “At first glance, there is little logic in calling elections from a position of great weakness. Mr. Macron could have done nothing. He could also have reshuffled his government or simply changed course by controlling immigration more strictly and abandoning his contested plans to tighten rules on unemployment benefits“.

In Russia: contempt for Moscow

Seen from Russia, the European elections do not matter much. On the other hand, in line with the anti-French campaign linked to Paris’ support for Ukraine, the media do not hesitate to hit Emmanuel Macron. The official RIA Novosti agency thus compares the defeat of the presidential camp to Napoleon’s Berezina, because the leader wanted “pander to Washington and “slick” Brussels“.

The president of the Duma, close to Vladimir Putin, also lumps the French and German leaders together (although Olaf Scholz refused to dissolve the Bundestag). Those two there “cling to power with the energy of despair“, says Vyacheslav Volodin. “They should resign“. The tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravdapro-Kremlin, adds that the weakened tenant of the Élysée is like “Zelensky in Ukraine: an illegitimate president“. Let us note in passing that those in power, like the press, avoid rejoicing too loudly about the victory of the National Rally.

In China: distancing

Daily life Global Times which summarizes the position of the regime puts Europe in its rightful place: the results of the European elections linked to internal questions will have much less impact on the progress of the world than the election of the next American president.

Researchers nevertheless point out that the breakthrough of the nationalists will lead to more protectionism on economic and commercial issues, which could be “a new source of friction” between Beijing and Brussels. On the social network Weibo, some Internet users try to explain what the consequences of the arrival of the far right to power in France could be, but few of them have mastered the mysteries of European politics. Far from these considerations, other Internet users are especially concerned about the impact of the political crisis in France on… the Olympic Games.