Jonathan Miller Jonathan Miller

The more voters see of Emmanuel Macron, the less they like

On Wednesday night, the two finalists in the French presidential election will meet for a head to head television debate, which will be watched by almost everyone in France. A choice between plague and cholera.

This is going to be a dangerous encounter for Emmanuel Macron, and a moment of opportunity for Marine Le Pen. Her supporters are suddenly imagining they could win and have announced a deal to appoint the veteran sovereignist Nicolas Dupont-Aignan as prime minister, if she does. This remains outside of any scenario I can imagine but even as Macron leads, his legitimacy is in doubt and the more voters see, the less they like.

Macron’s performance since winning his place in the second round is not inspiring confidence. He emerged from the posh La Rotonde restaurant at 2am after the first voting round where his guests included Daniel Cohn-Bendit, soixante-huitard turned pillar of the Paris bien pensant, Jacques Attali, last seen lining the European bank for reconstruction in London with Italian marble, and a gaggle of actors, singers and assorted celebs.

Jonathan Miller
Written by
Jonathan Miller

Jonathan Miller, who lives near Montpellier, is the author of ‘France, a Nation on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown’ (Gibson Square). His Twitter handle is: @lefoudubaron

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