Valdai Club

Emmanuel Macron was accompanied by a large group of French entrepreneurs. Several agreements were signed between Russia and France for almost a billion euros. So the overall outcome of the meeting can be considered positive by both sides.

The visits to Washington made by the French President Emmanuel Macron and the German Chancellor Angela Merkel were milestone occasions in the evolution of relations between the U.S. and its partners across the pond. An adjustment of their ties is long overdue. It is prompted by the profound changes taking place in the world highlighted by Britain’s exit from the EU and the election of Donald Trump as President of the U.S.

It is not as much the victory of Macron's party or even his personal victory, as collapse of others. First, this is collapse of traditional parties, especially the socialists who have been in power over the past five years. The party has in fact disintegrated into pitiful remnants. Macron’s fledgling party, which emerged a year ago as a political movement, will have the vast majority of 400 seats. Nobody believed this, but now facts have confirmed it.

The fact that representatives of the mainstream political parties failed to enter the second round of the presidential elections in France, is a manifestation of the global revolt against the elites. Many voters, both on the left and on the right, can side with the National Front as a mark of protest. This is not because they share the program of Marin Le Pen, but because they are unhappy with the return to that practice and politics that Macron can continue,

The most probable is the duel between Marine Le Pen and François Fillon in the second round. Today Fillon has certain advantage, but it is not guaranteed, because the rigidity of his program and its rightist character makes him vulnerable to critics not only from the left, but even from the center-right.

It would be an exaggeration to call François Fillon a candidate of Moscow. The position of the National Front and its leader, Marine Le Pen, is much more “pro-Russian”. She does not even conceal it. But in this field no special collisions should be expected. As for the current leftist leadership headed by Hollande, it is doomed to go away.

The type of terrorist attack which shook Nice on Bastille Day is difficult to prevent, and may have a considerable impact on liberal democracy in Europe, experts told valdaiclub.com.

The outgoing year 2015 marks at least three anniversaries related to Charles de Gaulle, one of the most prominent political figures of the 20th century, including his 125th birthday, 50th anniversary of his re-election as President of France at the first direct polls after 1848, and 45th death anniversary.

The growing popularity of the far right is related to the EU problems: low growth rates, high unemployment, debts and, of course, the influx of refugees.