Arthur de Laborde
modified to
1:42 p.m., June 23, 2022
In the midst of a political crisis in France and when he has just called on the opposition to “build compromises”, Emmanuel Macron flew to Brussels this Thursday to participate in the EU summit, before that of the G7 and then the ‘NATO. These trips can give the impression of absence, or even of desertion, at a time when the president is weakened politically.
Emmanuel Macron is taken by an eight-day diplomatic marathon, from the G7 to the NATO summit through the opening of the procedure for Ukraine’s accession to the EU. These trips can give the impression of absence, or even of desertion, at a time when the president is weakened internally.
The issue of Ukraine on the table
But, with this international agenda, the French will have to wait a bit before knowing the solutions he intends to implement to get out of the political crisis. The president promised it on Wednesday evening, upon his return to Paris. He will also begin to build this new method and configuration.
But in the immediate future, here in Brussels, it is essentially Ukraine that is in question. The country will be granted the status of candidate to the European Union, just like Moldova. This last summit of the French presidency began this morning with a meeting between the 27 and the countries of the Western Balkans which is about to end.
Show France’s leadership capacity
Emmanuel Macron is due to speak at a press conference with the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, Charles Michel. The actions and words of the Head of State should be scrutinized closely by his partners. With this main question: has he lost credibility in their eyes? On this point, the Elysée wants to be reassuring in any case and explains that no member state is questioning France’s leadership capacity.