This was an interesting experience for me. One, I love international relations. Two, I have plans to perhaps move to France or Italy (at least for part of the year) in the near future. And, three, and most enlightening, my wife and I are hosting a French high school exchange student this year. One who has very well developed ideas about Emmanuel Macron. And who has parents and grandparents who are politically active (grandma is one of the first Yellow Vests). So, as I read the book, I would bounce it's ideas off my exchange student and wait for the fireworks to begin!
The author has written an engaging story about Macron and his political life. It's an enjoyable read, and is easy to understand the ideas.
Macron longs for France to be seen as a world power once again. And watching the U.S. (and Germany) disengage from the world stage and become more isolationist, he see's his opening. His vision is for France to lead Europe into a better future. Now, if he could only convince those pesky French citizens to cooperate! Haha.
Not so easy! "N'emmerdez pas les Francais" (don't mess with the French people). A quote that stuck out to me was "Macron thinks about the end of the world, while we worry about the end of the month", a popular rallying cry among the demonstrators.
My exchange student confirmed these opinions. In her (and her families) eyes, Macron was just trying to take from the poor and middle-class, and give to the rich. Not trying to bring the crazy patchwork quilt of benefits/retirements/jobs-for-life system under control. They cannot see Macron trying to use France's financial might to lead Europe. Nope, just rob from the poor to enrich the upper class.
The author also spends a great deal of time talking about the rise of far-right parties in Europe. And the difficulties leaders have in dealing with the erratic, bombastic, bully Donald Trump. I found an interesting quote, "it shows that in Trump's world, words don't really matter. What counts is the performance and how the message plays with the audience". I see a lot of wisdom in that observation.
I get the feeling that Macron is in way over his head. I admire his passion, and willing to out-work everyone else. I just do not feel that he has the experience to change such well-entrenched political positions. I hope he can persevere and make progress. He does have some good insights, such as when, after a state visit, he "reported back to his fellow European leaders that he saw in Trump the character of a bully who would take advantage of those too weak to fight back". Very perceptive. The question is, will the people give Macron time to change the system, or will he be voted out in the next election?
I wish him luck!