A Weaker Macron Boon to World Peace

Date: 25 April 2022 - 21:52

News ID: ۱۰۲۰۲۵

By: Kayhan Int’l Staff Writer

Emmanuel Macron may have retained the presidency, as results for the second and final round of voting indicate, but the French people have lost the elections which featured the lowest turnout since the 1969 vote.

The controversial figure that he is, Macron will not have a smooth ride at the Elyse Palace in the next five years in view of the parliamentary polls next month where the far-right which improved its tally of votes in the presidential elections that it lost, is expected to dominate the chamber and block his bills.

The growing number of the 6-million odd French Muslim citizens, however, should not consider the loss of Le Penn as a relief to their plight which will not show any respite since Macron is also a notorious Islamophobe, as is evident by his anti-Islamic policies restricting their freedom and liberties.

The sharp divisions in the electorate show the absence of national unity in the French society that is plagued by rising inflation, unemployment, lack of proper medical care, social discrimination, and the growing immigration problem – now because of the war in Ukraine and influx of Slavic refugees.

For the ordinary people in France foreign policy doesn’t matter, whether in issues pertaining to the European Union (EU) or Paris’ role in the affairs of what are called the Francophone countries (former colonies, mostly in Africa).

This means Macron during his first time tried to punch above his weight, especially concerning the French interference in Lebanon and to a lesser extent in Syria, will not be taken seriously in West Asia.

Though a self-imposed permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, France, whose economy and political prestige have been going down over the past decades, clearly doesn’t fit the role of a major world power.

Consequently, its participation in the talks in Vienna on Iran’s inalienable right to enrich uranium for peaceful purpose will not be of any significance, despite the fact that Macron enjoys the support of the US – the non-participant in the so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action (JCPOA).

In view of the votes of the working class and other disenchanted elements of the French society garnered by the far right in the latest presidential elections, the ‘third front’ as the growing disgruntled section on the streets of France is being called, protests will continue throughout the country and might lead to violence.

The Yellow Vest Movement is expected to resume its nationwide demonstrations and so also the students and the civil workers against the policies of President Macron, who this time will have to bow to the pressures of the left which cast their votes for him, not out of any sympathy but their traditional opposition to the far-right.

Macron can thus do a favour to world peace and stability by ending French meddling in West Asia and Africa as well as in Ukraine.

He ought to stop all arms supplies to not just the warring sides in various parts of the African continent but also to the illegal Zionist entity, the Persian Gulf states, and to the separatists in southern Yemen who are part of the Saudi-Emirati war against the government of national unity in Sana’a.