Macron as French President: Lesser of Two Evils

France went to polls to elect a new president on Sunday, 7th May. The 39 year old Emmanuel Macron is the President-elect. He is a neo-liberalist who defeated the far right candidate Marine Le Pen in the second round of voting. He got 66.1% votes whereas his opponent Le Pen got 33.9%.

Macron is a former investment banker who was projected as the pro-business and pro-EU candidate, contrary to his opponent Le Pen who had declared that France would exit EU if she won. The election of Macron is being seen as the strengthening of EU.

French people had to choose between a socially liberal and economically right-winger like Macron and an out and out right-winger like Le Pen. Macron wants to fight rising unemployment in France by flexible labour laws and other neoliberal tactics of competitive and open economy. Whereas, Le Pen’s ideology would have alienated a large section of French population as she has publicly advertised her anti-Muslim ideas. She also has an aversion to immigrants.

Now, that the Presidential elections are over, political parties are gearing up for the legislative elections in June. Jean-Luc Melechon, the major left candidate, who saw a spike of 5% in his popularity in just one month and who was within the 3% reach of Macron in the first round of voting has said that he would oppose Macron in the legislative elections. He also intends to be the Prime Minister. Le Pen is also eyeing the legislative elections. Francois Fillion, the conservative candidate will also oppose Macron in the legislative elections.

In these elections French voters were stuck between a rock and a hard place. They chose the less harmful candidate.