27 May 2025
Yes, he's just an example of what's happened in Western democracies. He is a president without a people. He's a failure. He was elected on the hope that he would restore his country, but he now stays in power through manoeuvre and gambit. Just consider:
1. Democratic Arrogance ("Jupiterian Presidency")
Macron has cultivated a top-down, centralised style of governance. Critics call it "Jupiterian" - as if he's above democratic dialogue.
2. The 2024 Snap Election Gambit
His dissolution of the National Assembly in June 2024, after the European election defeat, is widely seen as a reckless gambit.
Rather than stabilising the country, it led to political chaos, four Prime Ministers in one year, and a hung parliament.
3. Ignoring Electoral Outcomes
Despite electoral gains by both the left (NFP) and right (National Rally - le Pen), Macron swindled in a minority centrist government, where there should have been some form of coalition and certainly the "democratic barrage", as the establishment call it, put up against the "extreme" right, ditto, was clearly to out-manoeuvre democracy and the people's vote....Starmer's EU deBrexit same same - no authority for his actions = this is archetypal fascism, by definition - fascism is when the corporate world runs the government in its own interests and against those of the people.
4. Refusing to Appoint a Left-Wing Prime Minister
After the NFP won the most seats in the legislative election, Macron rejected their proposed PM (Lucie Castets) and delayed any decision...we talked about this here at the time
https://www.livingintheair.org/2024/06/parliamentaries-in-france-latest.html
https://www.livingintheair.org/2024/07/analysis-of-2024-french-election-results.html
Macron is simply obstructing democratic processes.
5. Rising Cost of Living, Debt, and Austerity
France’s public debt exceeds 112% of GDP, and Macron supports austerity-style reforms (notably pensions), rather than de-financialising the economy.
His handling of debt and budgets, including using Article 49.3 to bypass parliament, enraged most non-brain-dead.
6. Public Alienation and Social Unrest
2024 strikes restarted (after les gilets jaunes), street protests, and more n more mistrust of government and authority in general.
78% of the public believes France is going in the wrong direction, yet Macron continues to push his agenda.
7. Macron’s “Truce” During the Olympics
He delayed forming a new government until after the 2024 Olympics, widely interpreted as stalling, not statesmanship, creating a vacuum of leadership at a time of crisis.
Context
You know, thinking about it, in some ways, Macron is like all our other leaders. They just lack seriousness and gravitas - unlike the leaders that we had back in the 70s and 80s - and I think it must be because of bad motivation. They are attracted to the job for the wrong at reasons.
What drove the people we had back in the 70s, and the 80s? They were serious-minded, polished politicians with a sense of duty and who led and developed a shared idea of the public interest and a common national destiny. This looks like another case of the downside of globalization and the increasing domination of Washington.
These days, if you look at the motivation, these people are motivated by money and the applause of a parent-type-figure - the deep state establishment who organise these things these days - by whom they are appointed, they have no internal civic drive of their own. They're just puppets of the establishment.
It's not right to blame "the people" by saying we get the politicians we deserve. I don't think that's fair.The fact of the matter is we have no choices and democracy is a poorly concealed sham.
Conclusion
He needs a public face-slapping, for his anti- democratic manoeuvering, his aloof style, and his policy decisions detached from public needs.
FYI
The bigger picture:
.https://www.youtube.com/live/aCpXRsssHZ0?si=7Xhtf7yPMJyNurHP
https://www.youtube.com/live/fxLgxSGe5sE?si=tHgHl1c2-cIkiMrX