From the hemicycle of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Emmanuel Macron will set out his priorities for the next six months, during which France holds the presidency of the Council.
But a close friend of the Head of State reminds us: “Europe is ultra-unifying in the DNA of the majority and in the electorate which enabled it to win in 2017”. The speech, capital for the 27, is just as important for a president who is about to declare his candidacy for a second term.
On the merits, Emmanuel Macron will talk about carbon tax at the borders, the Schengen reform to better curb migration, the reform of budgetary criteria, and the 3% deficit rule. In summary : “How to strengthen European identity, democracy and sovereignty”, according to a minister. Corn “beyond substantive issues”, it is recognized by the majority that there is “a political opportunity” three months before the presidential election.
“Europe, it divides the Republicans, smiles a chosen one, and it recreates the cleavage with the extremes.” In other words: this allows the right to hinder Valérie Pécresse, in favor of Marine Le Pen, an opponent deemed more convenient. The oppositions make more or less the same reading, and the proof is that two candidates, Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Marine Le Pen, gave press conferences on Tuesday to decline their vision of Europe. Jean-Luc Mélenchon is even in a meeting this Wednesday evening in Strasbourg on the same subject.
And then within the European hemicycle itself, each candidate sent his best trigger, to challenge Emmanuel Macron, Yannick Jadot the ecologist having planned to speak himself.
Even within the campaign teams, we recognize that this will be a media moment, not a turning point in the campaign. “Among real people, the French presidency of the European Union does not exist”, analyzes for example a framework of the National Rally. Emmanuel Macron’s most political entourage is not far from sharing his opinion. “International issues are for smart people, public opinion doesn’t care”, confides in private a heavyweight.
According to the Elysée, Emmanuel Macron’s speech in Strasbourg will not be “disconnected from the concerns of the French.” Because “the French love Europe when it’s France in a big way”, slips an evening visitor. France on a large scale is first and foremost France.