Politics

Macron and France need Germany (and vice versa)

In addressing what drove so many voters to support an anti-European vision, a triumphant Macron should consider what made Europe attractive in the past

Macron and France need Germany (and vice versa)
Photo: Getty Images

The centrist Emmanuel Macron’s success in the first round of the French presidential election is likely to re-energise Europe.

Unlike the other candidates, Macron does not just recognise the need for radical change to the European Union; he supports bringing it through Europe-wide cooperation. But Macron’s plurality of the popular vote was narrow, and a much larger share of French voters showed support for a very different political vision.

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