INVITATION: French presidential elections and their impact on the Czech Republic and the EU

We would like to cordially invite you to a debate on the French presidential elections and their impact on the Czech Republic and the EU.

The debate will take place on Tuesday May 9, 2017 at 6pm at the European House (Jungmannova 24, Prague 1).

Confirmed speakers:​

• Karel Schwarzenberg, Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Commitee on Foreign Affairs
• Martin Michelot, Deputy Director, EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy
• David Emler, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University

The debate will be moderated by Kateřina Etrychová, Foreign editorial office, Czech Television

On May 7, the French people will vote for their new president after what will have been the most divisive and uncertain race in French history. The campaign was marked by the rise of two populist candidates, another candidate making a serious run for the presidency outside of the party system, the demise of the traditional parties and two candidates charged by the justice. In this context, will the new French president have a strong enough mandate to govern and to be able to influence future EU policies? How will the European orientation of the president influence its European partners, and can we foresee a change in European dynamics after this election?  How does France’s new direction influence the Czech-French relationship on foreign policy, security, and economic issues?

Please, keep in mind that the online registration is essential for your participation at the debate. You can do so here or contact us at europeum@europeum.org. You can find the event on Facebook and the invitation enclosed on the right of this article.

Martin Michelot
Senior Associate Research Fellow

Expertise: NATO and transatlantic security, European foreign policy and defense, French politics, elections and society, Visegrad Four and Central Europe, EU institutional issues