Macron's plot to DICTATE in EU: French leader pushes for MORE POWER to choose next Juncker
EMMANUEL Macron is planning a major reorganization of the European
Parliament in an attempt to influence the appointment of Jean-Claude
Juncker's successor.The rookie party of the French president, La République en marche
(LREM), is identifying potential allies across the continent to form a
new political group for the European Parliament elections in 2019 to
boost France's status among its EU allies.
After shaking the political establishment to win the presidential election earlier this year, Macron seems unhappy with current political borders in Europe and wants to redraw them.
The 39-year-old president believes that the political climate in Europe is beginning to reflect the problems facing France's incumbent parties in this year's elections due to growing internal divisions that threaten its influence.
For example, the European People's Party includes Angela Merkel's Christian Democrat Union (CDU) and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz party, despite the fact that one party has much in common.For almost 40 years, EU policy has been dominated by the three main groups in the European Parliament: the European Center-Right European People's Party, the left-center Socialists and Democrats and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, and Macron wants that this happens change.
Speaking last month, the French president told the students at the
University of the Sorbonne: "You will see at European level what clearly
emerged in France in May, which is that sometimes what holds those
parts together no longer exists.
"It's because Europe's approach is no longer the same within big parties. It's because you do not believe in the same things."
Meanwhile, LREM co-director Arnaud Leroy said adhering to the old structures was not in the party's plans.He told the FT: "We want to revolutionize European politics, we do not want to get caught up in the structures and dynamics of the old party."
"Europe has become the new political flaw in many countries, so we are pushing for a policy review.
"Only if we do not start something new, only if we do not get a sufficiently large contingent of MEP, we think about which existing group to join."
Establishing and developing ties with the European Parliament has long been a useful way for European leaders to form alliances and to negotiate agreements in the EU.
By increasing his influence in European politics, Macron hopes his party may have more say in the appointment of the next president of the European Commission, with fledgling elections within two years.Brexit also presents an opportunity for Mr Macron to increase his influence in Europe, with 73 seats in the European Parliament that will remain vacant when Britain leaves the bloc.
Influential members of his party are already talking to some of their potential partners on the continent to see if an EU reorganization is possible.
Plans come after Macron described big ambitions for the bloc's future, with radical proposals including increased immigration cooperation, a joint border police force and greater integration among member states.
However, some European leaders have attacked the French president for trying to exercise too much control over Europe.
Leo Varadkar, the Irish leader, said that Macron's plans "were no more important" than the changes presented by any other European leader.And he said that the decision to make such far-reaching changes should be led by the European Parliament and the Commission, not by a single EU nation.
Speaking after an EU summit on Friday, Varadkar said Macron was "a very different kind of politician" because of his lack of experience at the lower levels of government before becoming president.
Asked if he thought the French leader's vision of the euro zone had "stalled," Irishman Taoiseach said: "I do not agree with everything he suggests, but I think his ambition is very welcome."
He said the summit had shown a shared desire for reform of the eurozone but added: "The best way to achieve progress is to use the community method to be led by the institutions, led by President Junker and President Tusk, not by a nation state.
"It's not that Macron's ideas are not welcome, it's just that they are no longer welcome or more important presented by any other prime minister or president."
After shaking the political establishment to win the presidential election earlier this year, Macron seems unhappy with current political borders in Europe and wants to redraw them.
The 39-year-old president believes that the political climate in Europe is beginning to reflect the problems facing France's incumbent parties in this year's elections due to growing internal divisions that threaten its influence.
For example, the European People's Party includes Angela Merkel's Christian Democrat Union (CDU) and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz party, despite the fact that one party has much in common.For almost 40 years, EU policy has been dominated by the three main groups in the European Parliament: the European Center-Right European People's Party, the left-center Socialists and Democrats and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, and Macron wants that this happens change.
Speaking last month, the French president told the students at the
University of the Sorbonne: "You will see at European level what clearly
emerged in France in May, which is that sometimes what holds those
parts together no longer exists."It's because Europe's approach is no longer the same within big parties. It's because you do not believe in the same things."
Meanwhile, LREM co-director Arnaud Leroy said adhering to the old structures was not in the party's plans.He told the FT: "We want to revolutionize European politics, we do not want to get caught up in the structures and dynamics of the old party."
"Europe has become the new political flaw in many countries, so we are pushing for a policy review.
"Only if we do not start something new, only if we do not get a sufficiently large contingent of MEP, we think about which existing group to join."
Establishing and developing ties with the European Parliament has long been a useful way for European leaders to form alliances and to negotiate agreements in the EU.
By increasing his influence in European politics, Macron hopes his party may have more say in the appointment of the next president of the European Commission, with fledgling elections within two years.Brexit also presents an opportunity for Mr Macron to increase his influence in Europe, with 73 seats in the European Parliament that will remain vacant when Britain leaves the bloc.
Influential members of his party are already talking to some of their potential partners on the continent to see if an EU reorganization is possible.
Plans come after Macron described big ambitions for the bloc's future, with radical proposals including increased immigration cooperation, a joint border police force and greater integration among member states.
However, some European leaders have attacked the French president for trying to exercise too much control over Europe.
Leo Varadkar, the Irish leader, said that Macron's plans "were no more important" than the changes presented by any other European leader.And he said that the decision to make such far-reaching changes should be led by the European Parliament and the Commission, not by a single EU nation.
Speaking after an EU summit on Friday, Varadkar said Macron was "a very different kind of politician" because of his lack of experience at the lower levels of government before becoming president.
Asked if he thought the French leader's vision of the euro zone had "stalled," Irishman Taoiseach said: "I do not agree with everything he suggests, but I think his ambition is very welcome."
He said the summit had shown a shared desire for reform of the eurozone but added: "The best way to achieve progress is to use the community method to be led by the institutions, led by President Junker and President Tusk, not by a nation state.
"It's not that Macron's ideas are not welcome, it's just that they are no longer welcome or more important presented by any other prime minister or president."
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