Daily Briefing: Macron will keep his keys to the Élysée after defeating his far-right rival Marine Le Pen. How likely is a thaw in relations with the UK during his second term?
Securing a second term is a remarkable achievement. But the French are restive and want change. The President’s next five years won’t be easy.
The Republicains and Socialists have suffered a big defeat. It’s now up to those who voted for Melanchon’s Left-wing France Unbowed party to decide whether Macron becomes the first president since Chirac to win another term.
There’s little daylight between the extremes of the French political spectrum – this might spell bad news for the President.
After a nervy few months, the President has reclaimed his role as frontrunner in the April election.
Macron has just about held the French economy together. But he is up against an entirely redefined national polity. And the emergence of charismatic Zemmour gives him reason to be nervous.
He may have been branded a “provincial oaf” by his snootier compatriots, but Xavier Bertrand is frontrunner to lead France’s Les Republicains in next year’s election.
The former Brexit negotiator is looking to capitalise on his infamy to give Macron a run for his money.
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