ZOOM: Macron miscalculated but now he gained time: he silenced the wrath of the people until May

Our Martin Michelot commented for the Hungarian server ZOOM on the current riots in France.

Our Martin Michelot commented for the Hungarian server ZOOM on the current riots in France.

In addition to rising fuel prices, tension has been growing for a long time over economic and social problems.

The current government has not at all been able to address the people in the lower and middle parts of society. Or, if there were attempts, they were very unfortunate.

This decision seems politically correct, as the protesters may feel they have achieved their goal. At the same time, the French government did not abolish it, but suspended the decision until May, so it was essentially time to get it, but they could convey the message they gave to the public.

Because of the inability of the opposition, it is ultimately conceivable that Macron will not hurt in the present situation as much as it was seen first.

Those who go to the streets are pointing out that a lot of people are having troubled livelihoods. Many people will have 30-40 euros left in their account by the end of the month, they are in anxiety because an unexpected expense could not be paid. That is why I see Macron has to do some kind of social program over time, otherwise he will be punished by the voters.

The whole article (in Hungarian) is available here. 

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