Benfleet A1
Hector Of The House
EMMANUEL, GETTING ELECTED PRESIDENT IS THE EASY PART!
Barring a surprise in the second-round which would dwarf both Brexit and Trump's victories, Emmanuel Macron will become President of the French Republic on May the 7th. In a fiercely defended secular society, maybe he would be tempted to quote St Francis of Assis's words, when elected.
"Where there is discord, may we bring harmony. Where there is error, may we bring truth. Where there is doubt, may we bring faith. And where there is despair, may we bring hope"… .[fo 1]
Familiar? Of course, they were Thatcher's words on entering Downing Street for the first time.............before she proceeded to trash them for the period of her rule. Macron would do well not to forget them.
I don't personally believe there are over 7 million racist's and fascist's who voted for the Front National. The majority are a section of the population who are so desperate to find a way out of their misery, that they are prepared to give in to their prejudicies and accept the simple (false) solutions, to complex problems, the FN offers them. They won't go away and unless some of their grievences (unemployment, inequality, isolation) are dealt with, we will reap the wrath in five years time.
Protection is no solution to the world's economic problems but neither is a system where beaurocrats, technocrats and big business continue to run the system for their own benefit. Somehow there has to be a fairer way forward, where wealth created has to be more fairly and equally distributed, where people feel more engaged in a society which is propelling them forward and not leaving them in it's wake.
Few so far have wanted to address these problems, Emmanuel Macron needs to fill that void and it won't be easy. Yet failure would be a disaster for France and Europe. You have my heartfelt and sincere good wishes for the future.........don't screw it up!
I heard on the radio today that Le Pen considers 2022 her best chance of winning so making the second round as she has must feel like a victory. I think you are right though when you say that issues such as education, employment, failed industry and immigration have to be addressed with urgency and an err on the side of those french who do feel, rightly or wrongly, forgotten or hard done by, by the established parties that have taken a tonking this time round.
Failure to do this could very well give Le Pen her moment and if I can see it happening from this side of the channel then your side had better wake up to it quick smart.