Macron is taking on the eco killjoys

Emmanuel Macron won’t forget the Yellow Vest movement in a hurry. The ragtag army that recruited regardless of sex, age, region and political persuasions, seriously rattled the president of France in the winter of 2018-19. Never in his wildest dreams could Macron have imagined, when he signed off his fuel tax rise, that within weeks he would be barricaded inside the Élysée as outside heavily-armed police faced down furious protestors.

Still, it taught Macron one thing: that those in the provinces see the world differently to the progressive political and media class in Paris. That’s why Macron has prioritised combating Islamism and uncontrolled immigration over the environment in the lead up to next year’s election.

Earlier this week, the government was taken to task by an independent body (which was set up by Macron) for its failure to meet climate targets. A couple of years ago such an accusation would have led to much gnashing of teeth within the Élysée but that was before Macron had his epiphany.