<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/02/emmanuel-macron-urges-voters-wake-up-nationalist-lies-sweep-europe>
"The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has described European nationalists as
“hidden Brexiteers” selling the public the “same lies” as those who campaigned
for Britain to leave the European Union.
In an interview with the
Economist, Macron said the only way to stop the rise
of nationalism was by “being bold enough not to think that their rise is
inevitable”.
And he reiterated that he did not rule out sending French troops to Ukraine if
Russia broke through frontlines and Kyiv requested soldiers.
Macron gave the interview after a speech last week in which he declared that
Europe was “mortal … and could die” in part because of the existential threat
posed by Russian aggression following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February
2022.
He was speaking weeks before European elections in June in which the far-right
Rassemblement National (RN) is expected to win with a crushing majority against
Macron’s centrist Renaissance party. It is not alone: across the 27-member
bloc, most polls predict the biggest gains for the far-right Identity and
Democracy (ID) group in the European parliament, which includes Germany’s
Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) and Italy’s Lega.
“What kills me, in France as in Europe, is the spirit of defeat. The spirit of
defeat means two things: you get used to it and you stop fighting,” said
Macron.
“The second is “what’s-the-pointism”, cowardice. People look at the polls, but
polls don’t make politics. It’s your ability to get things done that does. And
so everyone says that nationalism is on the rise. Obviously, that’s simpler.
But nationalists are distorting the European debate.”
Pointing to the effect of Britain’s decision to leave the EU, he added: “Brexit
has impoverished the United Kingdom. Brexit has done nothing to solve
immigration in the UK. Well, despite that, some people think it doesn’t look so
bad, but nobody dares to say that anything is wrong. And so nobody is taking
responsibility for anything.”
Returning to nationalist parties in the EU, he said: “In a way it’s as if we
were saying it’s not a problem if we entrust the bank to robbers. When they are
around the table, they take Europe hostage.
“So I say to Europeans: Wake up. Wake up! They are hidden Brexiteers. All
European nationalists are hidden Brexiteers. It’s all the same lies. In the
end, it’s the same results. And make no mistake. If you entrust the keys to
people who think like they do, there is no reason why Europe should become a
great power. No reason at all.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
