En Marche?

On May 7th, 2017, France showed the world that they do not need a “Gallic Donald Trump”. What a relief! If we pay closer attention to the election results, it is the first time since 1958 that neither the Republicans nor the Socialist Party have entered the second round.

What made voters seek a new hope? And can Mr. Macron take the responsibility to reform France’s economy?

Recently, French politics has been full of unkept promises. From center-left to center-right, politicians yelled to reignite the French dream but failed to take any beneficial actions. In the end, no change occured, and social inequality still exists in every corner of France’s society.

Luckily, rather than blaming the European Union for what happened, the majority of French people believe that the problem lies in their centralized political system. Mr. Macron also realized the importance of a new agreement between those keen to an open society and those leaning towards nationalism.

However, can he successfully carry out the necessary reform, such as labor law and spending cuts? Even though his approval ratings dropped to 36 percent following his first 100 days in office, we can still be optimistic for several reasons. Firstly, the recent economic growth in the Eurozone looks favorable for France’s economy. Secondly, Mr. Macron is an opportunist. Although at the beginning his party had no money, members, or deputies, he managed to find enough supporters to win the election. Thirdly, revealed from his marriage with a women 24 years older than him, his imperviousness to criticism will definitely help him overcome difficulties.

As Germany’s role in the EU became diminished after its recent election, France could again become the dominant force to propel European development. With Mr. Macron’s applicable personality, it is highly possible that France’s economy can be improved and that European economic upturn can last longer than expected.