Macron, the revenge of the European visionary
Although only a few weeks ago, Emmanuel Macron was rumored to be politically weakened or even resigning, he has unexpectedly regained momentum on the international stage. His clear-cut stance in favor of European strategic autonomy (a project he had initiated as soon as he took office), coupled with an offensive stance on French rearmament, has earned him renewed popularity, even beyond France's borders. The return of a "tax-and-spend" Donald Trump to the White House has reinforced the relevance of his plea for a Europe of defense, while Berlin and other partners are beginning to see his line as a necessity rather than a French fad. In this respect, Germany's change of stance on the brakes on its indebtedness and its reconsideration of its position in relation to the United States are historic.
At the same time, the President was convening not a conclave on pensions, but one of European chiefs of staff, trying to impose the French melody in a concert where everyone is playing their own tune - sometimes out of tune, often too loud.
It was also from the Élysée summit that Emmanuel Macron decided to replace the CEO of EDF. The latter had become the target of industrialists such as Thales, who accused him of trying to sell them electricity at too high a price, and of not respecting the agreement with "electro-intensive" industries. Delays in the EPR2 project also weighed in the balance, as the RN targeted the government over the price of electricity, which could double after the post-ARENH agreement. This public dismissal is reminiscent of that of Army Chief of Staff Pierre de Villiers, proof that the President of the Republic is once again keen to influence national issues. After seven years in power and numerous crises, Emmanuel Macron seems determined to inject a new, positive dynamic into the last two years of his term, and thus perhaps succeed in rectifying the image he will leave behind for the French.
A National Assembly in its bubble: Bayrou gets bogged down, retirement returns and the Asian hornet is on the agenda
While Macron was busy redefining France's place in the world, the return of the famous conclave on pensions seemed a little out of place. It was as if the country wanted to go on another social rollercoaster ride.
At the same time, the French National Assembly passed a bill to combat the Asian hornet. Admittedly, the insect is a nuisance for beekeepers, but it's hard not to see the irony of the moment: at a time when the world is shaking in the face of international tensions, our parliamentarians are brandishing the fly swatter as a national priority.
For his part, François Bayrou, long considered the sage of Macronie, is going through a turbulent period. Contested within his own political family and mired in court cases that are damaging his image, the Modem leader seems to be losing ground. A situation that reminds us that loyalty in politics is a quality as volatile as a badly calibrated tweet.
LR and PS: 2027 in their sights
On the right, the battle to take over the party has got off to a flying start, with the 2027 presidential elections in its sights. Between Bruno Retailleau and Laurent Wauquiez, the competition to embody the future of the Républicains is intensifying. While Wauquiez was dreaming of becoming the natural candidate for 2027, Retailleau is taking full advantage of his ministerial term to become the "new prince" on the right, pushing hard on the issue of relations with Algeria to attract LR voters who have gone over to the RN.
On the left, another duel is in the offing, with a crucial internal election for the Socialist Party. Olivier Faure, challenged by PS moderates, is seeing the emergence of more consensual figures ready to turn the page on the shaky alliance with La France Insoumise. Their objective? To make the PS a credible alternative for 2027, at a time when Jean-Luc Mélenchon is struggling to bring people together and the Greens are struggling to exist between their internal squabbles. Today, the Left seems to be a play whose text no one has memorized, with everyone improvising their lines in a general hubbub.
The Rassemblement National faces the international equation
While the RN has built its success on a sovereignist, anti-globalist line, the question of its positioning on international affairs is becoming increasingly thorny. Jordan Bardella and Marine Le Pen are seeking to distance themselves from the presidential line without offending their electorate, divided between a distrust of supranational institutions and the need for a certain diplomatic realism.
The RN's position on European defense is indicative of this ambiguity: on the one hand, the party criticizes NATO and advocates military independence; on the other, it avoids any sharp break that might worry moderate voters. It's a strategy reminiscent of that balancing act where you try not to fall off the wire while pretending to be totally in control of your steps. Faced with the uncertainties of Trump's return and growing international tensions, the RN is looking for a credible and electorally profitable posture - an as yet unsolved equation.
Furthermore, the invitation extended by the Israeli government to the President of the Rassemblement National to attend an international conference on combating anti-Semitism marks a further step towards the acceptance of the political party, while the President of the CRIF (Conseil représentatif des institutions juives de France) saw in this news a political instrumentalization of the fight against anti-Semitism.
A month of contradictions and lost illusions?
March is a perfect illustration of French political schizophrenia: a President who is regaining international stature by defending a sovereignist and strategic line, while a domestic political class is exhausted in tactical squabbles and debates that seem out of step with current events. The road to 2027 is still a long one, but one thing is certain: while some are thinking in years, others are still thinking in weeks...