[Editorial] The shadow of French dissolution hangs over the European summit
(B2) Even if no participant wants to admit it, the summit which opens this Thursday (June 27) in Brussels will hang like a shadow, that of the French elections. A “political crisis”, recognizes a European diplomat, which the other leaders would have done without.
The possible arrival of a far-right party, if not in power, at least in a position to destabilize it, is no longer a paper hypothesis today. Seeing one of the main countries of the European Union, both economically and demographically, paralyzed in a sneaky cohabitation is not to European taste or habit and many do not understand the deliberate choice of the French president.
France is indeed not just any country. In addition to its natural weight, it is a military power (the only nuclear power of the 27 today) and has inherited its role as a founding country of European construction, a role hilarious promoter of ideas, initiator of projects. A role which could be greatly reduced in the future. The functioning of the European Union could suffer.
The French President, Emmanuel Macron, will certainly have to use all his enthusiasm and his know-how to try to convince his interlocutors that his speech will remain free and that he will be able to engage France in future meetings as certainly as today. . But that might not be enough. Whatever happens, the French position, tomorrow and in the coming months, could well be weakened.
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
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