Emmanuel Macron created French history by becoming the President of France at the young age of 39. The youngest ever president of the French Republic, Macron has started working on his reelection bid by putting in measures to give the economy a push. His goal in not just to open cafes, theaters, museums and schools, similar to what is happening all over Europe, which were shut due to the pandemic, but to make a meaningful economic impact that will fetch him much needed votes.
In 2017, he rose to the highest position in the country from a fairly obscure background as he fought and won the elections against the far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who continues the right-wing policies of her father Jean-Marie Le Pen. Jean-Marie Le Pen, who made five unsuccessful bids to become the President, has been a huge polarizing figure in France.
Considering that Macron was a novice in politics shortly before he assumed the highest position, it is difficult to predict the outcome of the next presidential elections in France. Most political analysts believe that it will once again be a fight between Macron and Marine Le Pen, but Macron will have an edge.
Macron has maintained an edge in French politics with his centrist policies. He appeals to voters who belong to both the moderate left and moderate right. Despite a fall in popularity due to the pandemic, he is still polling good figures, better than his predecessors. He still remains much more popular than his far-right colleague and he has no competition as of now from any other or a new emerging leader.
The pandemic has taken a toll on France with deaths, hospitalizations, lockdowns and a battered and bruised economy. The president is looking forward towards his reelection, of which he has dropped a few hints to the media, by trying to bring in policies that favor both the right and the left. He needs the moderate base support, once again, from both these voting banks.
Some of his recent policies address the following issues:
Strong security throughout the country
Curbs to prevent terrorist activities
Increase in police staff
Increasing the number of legal enforcers
Narrowing the inequality gap
Improving economic mobility
Laying down social justice reforms
All of Macron’s recent policies are aimed to balance the requirements of both the left and the right as past history shows that the current French President needs support from both to win the presidential elections for the second time.
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