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What does Macron’s second term mean for Europe?

Debating Europe and Euronews host TV-debate

On Sunday, Emmanuel Macron won the presidential run-off and was re-elected as French President. His re-election and comfortable lead over his Eurosceptic opponent Marine Le Pen was greeted with a sigh of relief by many in Brussels. Several European leaders congratulated Macron on his success and interpreted it as an endorsement of his pro-European stance by the French population. Yet some observers pointed out that with 41.5% of the casted votes, righ-wing populist Marine Le Pen achieved the best result her party, the National Rally, has ever achieved. So, what does this mean for Macron’s support in the French population? And what does his second term mean for Europe?

Members of the European Parliament discuss YOUR questions!

You sent us YOUR questions and we teamed up with Euronews to discuss them in a TV debate with MEPs from across the political spectrum!

What do our readers think?

Our reader Lena from Germany points out that Le Pen achieved a good result despite her defeat. She asks:

  • Marine Le Pen may have lost the election, but she still got more than 40% of the vote – her best result so far. So I ask myself: how right-wing is French society really? And will her success inspire other populists and nationalists in Europe?

Watch the MEPs discuss this question in the video above!

Our reader Nicolas from Romania wonders what impact the election result will have on defence and security in Europe:

  • Now that the French presidential election has been decided, is it more likely that there will be a European army?

Watch the MEPs discuss this question in the video above!

Most recently, user Kostian sent us this comment:

  • Europe is in the midst of a severe energy crisis in which prices are rising. France is expanding its nuclear power, while Germany is shutting down its nuclear power plants. Does this show that there is no common line between two of the most important EU countries when it comes to energy policy? Does this have implications for the EU’s Green Deal and the fight against climate change as a whole?

Watch the MEPs discuss this question in the video above!

What does Macron’s second term mean for Europe?

Will Marine Le Pen’s good performance inspire other populists and nationalists in Europe? Will there now be a European army? What will future cooperation between Germany and France look like?

IMAGE CREDITS: Philippe BUISSIN/European Union 2022 – Source : EP

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