Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification French President Emmanuel Macron has dissolved the National Assembly and called a general election after the victory of the French far-right in the
European parliament elections. The French far-right won 32 per cent of the vote, with Macron’s party obtaining less than 15 per cent. But what are the consequences of Macron’s gamble for France, Europe and the world?
Amid growing popular support, the far-right could very well win a relative majority, forcing the president to appoint a far-right prime minister. Under an arrangement in French politics called cohabitation, in which the president and the prime minister are from different parties, the president is likely to focus on foreign affairs while the prime minister controls internal affairs. Macron’s previous reforms are likely to be reversed, making France more unstable, more ungovernable and even more polarised.
A far-right France could fatally cripple an already weakened European Union, the ideal of a shared European identity and the ambition for a United States of Europe. A founding member of the European Economic Community, France is the only EU member with a permanent UN Security Council seat. An anti-EU French government is likely to weaken the EU’s global influence as geopolitical tensions and competitiveness intensify amid rising protectionism.
In addition, a far-right French government would jeopardise
Western support for Ukraine against the Russian invasion. The French far-right party, National Rally, has been accused of being close to Moscow. Under Macron, France has been a vital ally for Ukraine. Recently, Macron announced that he would provide Ukraine with combat aircraft. He has even hinted at French boots on the ground to fight Russia.
But under cohabitation, the French government would weaken not only French but European and Nato support against Russian aggression. France has just commemorated the
80th anniversary of D-Day, a turning point in the liberation of France and the fight for liberty. The second world war is a reminder of how a divided Europe is globally destructive, and how important the EU is in safeguarding long-lasting peace, prosperity and freedom. The French should not forget their painful history and stand on the wrong side of history. We should all hope Macron’s gamble pays off.
