| Next | Section menu | Main menu | Previous |

Macron’s balancing act

Sophie Pedder: Paris bureau chief, The Economist, PARIS

French politicians limber up for the presidential elections of 2022

Looking for a middle way

2021 in brief

The Spanish province of Galicia, covid-19 permitting, hopes to celebrate the jubilee of
Santiago (St James the Apostle) in 2021. The year-long festivity can only take place
when July 25th falls on a Sunday. More pilgrims following the way to Santiago de
Compostela, would bring joy both to religious authorities and the tourist industry

WHO MIGHT credibly challenge Emmanuel Macron for the presidency? By the end of
20 21 the French will get a good sense of which rival opponents could do so at elections
the following spring. This will make for a politically divisive year, as hopefuls of all
stripes test their chances. Stand by for tribal feuds, culture wars, opportunistic
incursions—and a lot of Macron-bashing.

In 2017 Mr Macron crushed the mainstream parties of the left (the Socialists) and the
right (the Republicans) at national level. But each retains strong local roots. So both will
do well at elections scheduled in all of France’s 13 regions in March—covid- 19