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Emmanuel Macron, French Economy Minister, Hints at Presidential Run Emmanuel Macron, French Economy Minister, Hints at Presidential Run
(35 minutes later)
PARIS — The re-election prospects for France’s weakened president, François Hollande, clouded further Tuesday night as his economy minister, Emmanuel Macron, all but stepped into the ring against him in next year’s presidential elections at a crowded rally in central Paris.PARIS — The re-election prospects for France’s weakened president, François Hollande, clouded further Tuesday night as his economy minister, Emmanuel Macron, all but stepped into the ring against him in next year’s presidential elections at a crowded rally in central Paris.
Mr. Hollande’s record-breaking unpopularity in a country troubled by a stagnant economy and fears of new terrorist attacks makes him one of the shakiest of European leaders.Mr. Hollande’s record-breaking unpopularity in a country troubled by a stagnant economy and fears of new terrorist attacks makes him one of the shakiest of European leaders.
Already, he has been forced to agree to a primary among leftist parties, including his own Socialists, to decide the 2017 candidate — a first for a sitting president.Already, he has been forced to agree to a primary among leftist parties, including his own Socialists, to decide the 2017 candidate — a first for a sitting president.
Polls show him far behind veteran politicians from France’s traditional right. At the same time, Marine Le Pen of the far-right National Front is steadily advancing in a climate of rising populism both in Europe and the United States.Polls show him far behind veteran politicians from France’s traditional right. At the same time, Marine Le Pen of the far-right National Front is steadily advancing in a climate of rising populism both in Europe and the United States.
Now the restive Mr. Macron, 38, the youngest man in Mr. Hollande’s cabinet, can be counted as a fresh element in Mr. Hollande’s growing political woes. On Tuesday, he stepped close to the edge of declaring his own independent candidacy for next year. Now the restive Mr. Macron, 38, the youngest man in Mr. Hollande’s cabinet, can be counted as a new element in Mr. Hollande’s growing political woes. On Tuesday, he stepped close to the edge of declaring his own independent candidacy for next year.
Mr. Macron, a former banker, has spent two years questioning Socialist orthodoxy on doctrines like the 35-hour workweek and ironclad job protections, and this spring he founded his own political movement, En Marche!, or On Our Way. Mr. Macron, a former banker, has spent two years questioning Socialist orthodoxy on doctrines like the 35-hour workweek and ironclad job protections, and this spring he founded his own political movement, En Marche, or On Our Way.
Until government colleagues began giving him the cold shoulder over his undisguised political ambitions, he had been the standard-bearer for the pro-capitalism wing of the Socialists.Until government colleagues began giving him the cold shoulder over his undisguised political ambitions, he had been the standard-bearer for the pro-capitalism wing of the Socialists.
But Tuesday night, he cast away allegiance to the party, and in over an hour of lofty rhetoric, Mr. Macron repeatedly suggested in front of thousands of cheering supporters that he was the man “to change the country.”But Tuesday night, he cast away allegiance to the party, and in over an hour of lofty rhetoric, Mr. Macron repeatedly suggested in front of thousands of cheering supporters that he was the man “to change the country.”
He cast himself as an iconoclast willing to upset the establishment.He cast himself as an iconoclast willing to upset the establishment.
En Marche! is “against the established order,” Mr. Macron declared, the one to “transform the country” in an era calling for “a fresh breath” and when “we must overcome the divisions” of the traditional parties. He said that France had a “furious desire for things to change.” En Marche is “against the established order,” Mr. Macron declared, the one to “transform the country” in an era calling for “a fresh breath” and when “we must overcome the divisions” of the traditional parties. He said that France had a “furious desire for things to change.”
That last point is far from clear. Throughout the spring and summer, France has been hit by a wave of strikes and demonstrations, most supported by a majority of the population, protesting a modest economic overhaul law partly inspired by Mr. Macron’s pro free-market ideas. That last point is far from clear. Throughout the spring and summer, France has been hit by a wave of strikes and demonstrations, most supported by a majority of the population, protesting a modest economic overhaul law partly inspired by Mr. Macron’s pro-free-market ideas.
The limited overhauls he had earlier proposed — opening up intercity bus routes and loosening restrictions on Sunday work hours — had to be forced through Parliament last year by the Socialists.The limited overhauls he had earlier proposed — opening up intercity bus routes and loosening restrictions on Sunday work hours — had to be forced through Parliament last year by the Socialists.
The government is adopting the same strategy for the current bill that would further loosen labor laws, as it is unable to even get a majority of Socialists in Parliament to support it.The government is adopting the same strategy for the current bill that would further loosen labor laws, as it is unable to even get a majority of Socialists in Parliament to support it.
Indeed, angry anti-Macron union demonstrators besieged the Left Bank meeting hall where the economy minister spoke Tuesday night, forcing his supporters to run a gantlet of police officers and protesters.Indeed, angry anti-Macron union demonstrators besieged the Left Bank meeting hall where the economy minister spoke Tuesday night, forcing his supporters to run a gantlet of police officers and protesters.
Mr. Macron, repeatedly casting himself and his movement as France’s top — perhaps only — change agents, called En Marche! an “assembly of progressives” that “believes in liberty and justice.” Mr. Macron, repeatedly casting himself and his movement as France’s top — perhaps only — change agents, called En Marche an “assembly of progressives” that “believes in liberty and justice.”
But the crowd Tuesday night, which seemed affluent and monochromatic, did not appear to reflect the multicultural reality of urban and suburban France.But the crowd Tuesday night, which seemed affluent and monochromatic, did not appear to reflect the multicultural reality of urban and suburban France.
Mr. Macron was introduced by an enthusiastic young woman who described herself as an “entrepreneur” who had spent six years in Silicon Valley.Mr. Macron was introduced by an enthusiastic young woman who described herself as an “entrepreneur” who had spent six years in Silicon Valley.
Mr. Macron has irritated his colleagues with his ambition — “It’s time for all this to stop,” his boss, Prime Minister Manuel Valls, was heard muttering Tuesday afternoon — and at the rally, the young minister stopped just short of gratifying his supporters.Mr. Macron has irritated his colleagues with his ambition — “It’s time for all this to stop,” his boss, Prime Minister Manuel Valls, was heard muttering Tuesday afternoon — and at the rally, the young minister stopped just short of gratifying his supporters.
He did not overtly declare his candidacy, and he did not resign from the government, as some within it are saying he must do.He did not overtly declare his candidacy, and he did not resign from the government, as some within it are saying he must do.
But he came very close. “Nothing can stop this movement now,” he said to cheers. “This movement, we will carry it together to 2017, and all the way to victory!” he shouted, his voice cracking at times.But he came very close. “Nothing can stop this movement now,” he said to cheers. “This movement, we will carry it together to 2017, and all the way to victory!” he shouted, his voice cracking at times.
And he got in a dig at his other boss, Mr. Hollande: “Our country is weary of promises that have not been kept,” Mr. Macron said, assuring the crowd he understood the “huge transformations” that were taking place in France’s economy and society.And he got in a dig at his other boss, Mr. Hollande: “Our country is weary of promises that have not been kept,” Mr. Macron said, assuring the crowd he understood the “huge transformations” that were taking place in France’s economy and society.
But the French political scientist Gérard Grunberg underlined in an interview the difficulty of Mr. Macron’s political position.But the French political scientist Gérard Grunberg underlined in an interview the difficulty of Mr. Macron’s political position.
“It is very difficult for him to go up against François Hollande,” he said. “On the other hand, he wants absolutely to be a candidate. He is playing double or nothing.”“It is very difficult for him to go up against François Hollande,” he said. “On the other hand, he wants absolutely to be a candidate. He is playing double or nothing.”
But Mr. Grunberg dismissed the economy minister’s strategy of presenting himself as an anti-establishment candidate. “It’s stupid, because he’s so much a member of the establishment, he can’t play the populist card,” he said noting Mr. Macron’s close connection to “the ruling classes” and the difficulty he will have connecting with the less-exalted in French society.But Mr. Grunberg dismissed the economy minister’s strategy of presenting himself as an anti-establishment candidate. “It’s stupid, because he’s so much a member of the establishment, he can’t play the populist card,” he said noting Mr. Macron’s close connection to “the ruling classes” and the difficulty he will have connecting with the less-exalted in French society.