Emmanuel Macron spoke at length with the newspaper The Economist on Thursday May 2, 2024. He warns against the rise of the far right, one month before the European elections.
In an interview given to the British newspaper The Economist, published Thursday May 2, the head of state expressed his fears regarding “the nationalists” in Europe, one month before the European elections. “The best way to build together is to have as few nationalists as possible,” he believes, fearing a “spirit of defeat” in France as in Europe. According to him, some people “no longer fight” and have become accustomed to the rise of nationalism.
In the columns of the newspaper, the president makes the comparison with Eros against Thanatos. “If Thanatos is hungrier, death wins. If the Europeans are on the side of Eros, this is the only way to get there. Do not be afraid, be bold. Look, there is great things to do,” he defends. The head of state then takes the example of Brexit, believing that European nationalists were “hidden Brexiters”. “It’s as if we were saying it’s no big deal to entrust the bank to robbers,” he defends. According to him, the nationalists would take Europe hostage. “If you entrust the keys to people who think like them, there is no reason for Europe to become a great power. None,” warns Emmanuel Macron.
A speech while in the last Ipsos poll published this Monday, April 29, Renaissance totaled 17% of voting intentions, compared to 32% for the National Rally. “So I say to Europeans: ‘Wake up!’, continues the president. According to him, the National Rally is lying to the French. Emmanuel Macron takes the situation of farmers and the Common Agricultural Policy (the CAP) as an example: “The National gathering, it does not vote for the common agricultural policy. However, the farm in Europe which affects the most people is France. They don’t vote, but they tell the farmers that with them, things will be much better, that they will rid the farmers of all the rules. It’s true. But where will they get the 9 and a half billion in funding? They don’t explain it,” he laments.
The president nevertheless remains optimistic. “I am always optimistic (…) But I deeply believe, even though I have undoubtedly aged, that I have not lost my enthusiasm and my iron will. And when I tell you that that is the question of Eros, that’s really it, that is to say the desire to want to. If you tell people it’s ruined, it’s already ruined,” explains Emmanuel Macron.