“What is the European National Rally project? » Emmanuel Macron, questioned by twelve young Europeans in Strasbourg about the rise of populism in Europe, clearly named his opponent when he limited himself to targeting “nationalists” at the Sorbonne. His angle of attack: RN offers nothing. “I stood democratically before the National Assembly twice. Seven years ago they wanted to leave Europe and the euro. Two years ago, we didn’t really know… And today, what do they want? »
Following the resumption of opinion polls showing the RN far ahead in voting intentions, he insists: “I look at the numbers like you do. I’m not here to comment on them. I simply know that there is no comprehensive project behind it. »
Back to the “worst of times”
The president’s offensive expands against all European populists when Pierre talks to him about the homophobic attacks he has suffered: “In this bad wind we are talking about, what we experienced in the worst times is clearly coming back,” the president replies. And since Europe excels in its “humanist” project, it must “sanction governments” that violate itEthe rule of law and undermine the rights of minorities and women.
This demand is logical: the European Union intervenes more in the life of the member states. Not in all areas (“subsidiarity” must be better respected), but in essential areas. On Thursday at the Sorbonne, he defended qualified majority decisions on taxes or foreign policy. Sovereign Europe seen from the Elysian Isle, a superstate according to the populists.
Against Orban – and Meloni
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán responded on Thursday to the summit of conservatives and nationalists that met in Budapest. The European elections in June and the American presidential elections in November, with the candidacy of his “friend” Donald Trump, must be “an unparalleled opportunity to replace the declining spirit of the progressive and liberal world with another: a sovereign world order”.
Macron faces Orban. Liberal versus illiberal, humanism versus nationalism. Their clash has already dominated European voting in 2019. Orbán’s ally, Italy’s Matteo Salvini, was in opposition. In 2024, he is in power in Rome with Giorgia Meloni, herself from the neo-fascist movement. If there is a “bad wind”, it is certainly blowing stronger than five years ago.