EMMANUEL MACRON likes pomp. In a speech to MPs and senators on July 3rd in the gilded Palace of Versailles, he referred five times to the “grandeur” of France. His predecessors rarely made such addresses, but he will do so annually, state-of-the-union style. He has said France needs a “Jupiter-like” president: remote and dignified, like the Roman king of the gods. (This sounds less conceited in French than it does in English, but has still raised eyebrows.) Mr Macron’s supporters say he needs to invest his office with more authority to pass ambitious reforms.
For example, Mr Macron wants to change the constitution within a year, by referendum if need be. He wants to cut by one-third the number of parliamentarians, add an unspecified “dose” of proportional representation to the electoral system, slim government and make judges more independent. He reckons voters, who dumped once-dominant political parties in the election, are hungry for big...Continue reading
Souce: Europe http://ift.tt/2tQ0hfy
EmoticonEmoticon