Grandstand. At the time of the popular Primary, in January, it was noticed that the ten-point platform on which the future presidential candidate was to rally did not mention European and international questions. It was paradoxical, when it comes to the election of France’s main foreign policy official.
This silence was the reflection of the deep divisions which have always crossed the French left on the subject, between an anti-European branch, resistant to capitalism and not aligned, and a pro-European branch, favorable to the market economy and convinced of the usefulness of NATO.
The Popular Union intends to succeed where the Popular Primary failed: to present single candidates from the left in each of the 577 constituencies. European and international issues are no longer evacuated, since the common program derives from that of Jean-Luc Mélenchon, marked by a very anti-European, even nationalist tone when it comes to the economy or social protection.
The NATO toy
The leader of the “rebellious” believes that many of France’s misfortunes result from European policies and standards. For five years, he has presented Emmanuel Macron as being subject to the Germans, the European Commission and the Americans at the same time. The French president would be the plaything of NATO which unnecessarily provokes Vladimir Putin.
On specifically European questions, Mr. Mélenchon hardly makes any proposals: he simply affirms his intention to ignore whole sections of European law, which could imply a blocking of the European institutions, France’s exit from the Union or the disaggregation of it – if each Member State did the same.
The Triple E agency, consortium of six associations active on European issues, organized an evaluation of the European program of the various presidential candidates. She awarded Jean-Luc Mélenchon a score of 6.5/20, reflecting his distrust of the Union.
Anne Hidalgo and Yannick Jadot obtained 12.5 and 15/20, by virtue of more pro-European visions. In 1983, under the leadership of François Mitterrand, the Socialists had indeed opted for European construction and openness to the world; at Union level, they belong to the Party of European Socialists, which militates for a strengthening of the Union and a federal evolution of its institutions.
A risky choice
As for ecologists, they have long considered that the major issues of the moment can only be solved on a European scale; they do not spare their criticism of EU policies, but do not question their relevance.
You have 46.15% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.