It’s not going well for French President Emmanuel Macron. We are not talking about reforms in France, because it looks even good. This week, National Assembly of Paris adopted a whole package of social reforms, including a long-discussed reform of social security contributions, which puts employers and workers under less burden, but raises taxes for it. Pensioners will soon pay more than before. Neverless, country remains calm. Protests, as y would orwise have always been in such reforms? False display.
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It is more gloomy about its European plans. “Macron is currently driving a double strategy,” says Sébastien Maillard, head of independent Parisian Jacques Delors Institute, a European Parisian Thinktank. “The president makes home conservative and liberal politics and at same time sets left-wing accents in Europe.” Macron’s basic idea: he wants to reform France and approach norrn European partners like Germany – even if it hurts. At same time, it calls for more solidarity at European level. Therefore its thrust for a eurozone budget. At least 100 billion euros per year will ensure that future crises in Europe are jointly mastered.
Macron’s opponent is called FDP
This dual strategy is now threatening to fail because Europe, especially Berlin, is not in business. Macron had predicted it in early September: “If you are allied with Liberals, I am dead,” president said of a coalition of Chancellor Angela Merkel with FDP according to Le Monde. Now, however, FDP chief Christian Lindner once again confirmed that he has nothing left for Macron’s idea of Europe: “No new currency fund, to which Germany pays 60 billion and all serve itself,” said Lindner in ZDF talk at Maybrit Illner on Thursday evening. As a result, FDP chief made it clear that a euro budget will not be given to him. “Will FDP-Lindner be new Schäuble?” n asked Bild.
The natural ally in Europe, Greens, are holding back: “We are not press spokesperson Macron”, Green boss Cem Özdemir in ZDF talk. The European expert of Greens, Franziska Branter, supports Macron. Only in early October EU Commission presented a plan for a value added tax, which foresees 150 billion euros in more revenue, she says. But this does not matter in Berlin exploratory talks. Macron is only perceived as a blender or beautiful speaker, says Brantner. You don’t want to take his word for it in Berlin.
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The French President had carefully prepared for ongoing coalition negotiations. He held his now famous European speech at Sorbonne University in Paris only two days after German Bundestag election. He timed it exactly so that new coalition in Berlin would listen to him and, he hoped, would follow. Was that naïve?
Surprising visit to Berlin
“I trust Merkel,” says experienced Parisian foreign policy expert Dominique Moïsi of French Institute for International Relations (IFRI). He advises Macron to “say nothing more and do”, which could influence negotiations in Berlin. He would only deal with accusation of wanting to influence negotiations. Moisi believes that a new Franco-German compromise for Europe in response to dangers of populism and separatism continues to be possible. Neverless, he remains sceptical: “So far, it was not problem that Germany was too strong, but France was too weak. Now is not problem that France is too ambitious, but Germany is not ambitious enough. “
For next Wednesday his Minister for Economic Affairs Bruno Le Maire unforeseen in Berlin. He will be holding talks with Christian Lindner, Cem Özdemir and Peter Altmaier (CDU), Ministry of Economics of Paris, on request of time online on Friday. The talks were in connection with president’s European speech at Sorbonne. “The President underlined in his speech high priority of European project”, explains spokeswoman of ministry, Chantal Hughes, Berlin trip Le Maires. “The minister wants to talk to his German partners about future of eurozone. He certainly does not come to meddle in German domestic politics, but to exchange himself openly, “says Hughes.
The surprise visit of French Minister of Economics, however, gives a clear signal: it is not working well for Macron, less in Paris than in Berlin.
