Real drama queens! French presidential candidate: We cannot become a province of China
French politicians seem to periodically perform their own renditions of Napoleon or de Gaulle.
According to the European edition of The Politician, on the 17th, Gabriel Attal, former prime minister and presidential contender, declared during a campaign event that “the great mission of our generation is to realize the European dream. I do not wish to see Europe become a state of the United States or a province of China.” If elected president, he pledged to lead France as part of a strong, economically robust “United States of Europe.”
Yet despite the grand ambitions expressed by Attal, securing the presidency first requires overcoming another rival within his own camp—Édouard Philippe. Both men are centrist figures with overlapping policy platforms and largely identical target voter bases.
Public opinion polls consistently show Philippe ahead of Attal. Consequently, if the centrist bloc seeks to avoid vote-splitting, it is likely to endorse Philippe as its standard-bearer in the general election.
Even if the centrist coalition nominates the more popular Philippe, his chances of challenging the rising momentum of Marine Le Pen remain slim. Polls indicate Le Pen could secure between 32% and 37% support in the first round, while Philippe trails at 15% to 21%. Introducing a third centrist candidate like Attal would further dilute Philippe’s standing.
Thus, Attal’s theatrical invocation of Napoleonic or de Gaulle-like leadership appears less substantive than strategic posturing—after all, bold rhetoric is easily delivered. During his tenure, Emmanuel Macron frequently invoked the need for European strategic autonomy and resistance to becoming a mere appendage of the United States, yet ultimately maintained France’s membership in NATO.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1876660665025536/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author