Europe

France’s Macron to be inaugurated for second five-year term

Editorial Bureau May 8, 2022

PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron is being inaugurated for a second term during a ceremony on Saturday at the Elysee presidential palace. Macron was reelected for five years on April 24 in a runoff that saw him beat out far-right rival Marine Le Pen. About 500 guests are expected at the

Europe

Reelection bolsters France’s Macron as powerful player in EU

Editorial Bureau April 28, 2022

PARIS — Soon after his victory was announced, French President Emmanuel Macron took the stage to the sound of the European Union’s anthem, the “Ode to Joy.” The symbolism was strong: The 44-year-old centrist’s election to a second term bolsters his standing as a senior player in Europe. Macron is now expected to push for […]

Europe

Fruity near-miss for France’s Macron, targeted by tomatoes

Editorial Bureau April 28, 2022

PARIS — Newly reelected French President Emmanuel Macron narrowly avoided being pelted by what looked like a small sackful of cherry tomatoes Wednesday as he waded through a boisterous and packed crowd in a market northwest of Paris. About six of the small fruits, some orange, some red, contained in what looked like a blue […]

Europe

Macron woos leftist voters as French campaign nears end

Editorial Bureau April 22, 2022

SAINT-DENIS, France — French President Emmanuel Macron visited a multicultural, working-class suburb north of Paris on Thursday to woo leftist voters ahead of Sunday’s presidential runoff vote against far-right challenger Marine Le Pen. Reflecting the vote’s wide international influence, the centrist Macron received support Thursday from the center-left leaders of Germany,

Europe

Macron, Le Pen square off for decisive debate as vote looms

Editorial Bureau April 20, 2022

PARIS — In the climax of France’s presidential campaign, centrist President Emmanuel Macron and far-right contender Marine Le Pen will meet Wednesday evening in a one-on-one television debate that could prove decisive before Sunday’s runoff vote. Both candidates have carefully prepared for the highly scrutinized debate that’s expected to last more than two hours. Macron,

Europe

French duel: Macron vs Le Pen fight for presidency

Editorial Bureau April 11, 2022

PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron may be ahead in the presidential race so far, but he warned his supporters that “nothing is done” and his runoff battle with far-right challenger Marine Le Pen will be a hard fight. And she’s ready for it. The duel is starting Monday, after the two came out on […]

Europe

Beer flows, Champagne bubbles as Macron, Le Pen reach final

Editorial Bureau April 11, 2022

PARIS — Beer flowed at incumbent Emmanuel Macron’s celebration of his first-round victory in the French presidential election, while Champagne corks popped across town to mark far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s second-place showing. It was a night of effervescence for both contenders and their supporters ahead of a showdown in two weeks to see who […]

Europe

Macron leads polls but turnout a big question in French vote

Editorial Bureau April 7, 2022

PARIS — President Emmanuel Macron is the clear favorite in France’s presidential race Sunday yet a big unknown factor may prove decisive: an unprecedented proportion of people say they are unsure who to vote for or don’t intend to vote at all, bringing a large dose of uncertainty to the election. The pro-European centrist is […]

Europe

Macron’s re-election push troubled by ‘McKinsey Affair’

Editorial Bureau April 2, 2022

PARIS — As French President Emmanuel Macron prepares to hold his first big rally Saturday in his race for re-election, his campaign has hit a roadbump. It’s been dubbed “the McKinsey Affair,” named after an American consulting company hired to advise the French government on its COVID-19 vaccination campaign and other policy. A new French […]

World

Macron keeps an open line to Putin as war in Ukraine rages

Editorial Bureau March 7, 2022

NICE, France — While most of the world is shunning President Vladimir Putin over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, one of the few leaders keeping an open line of communication is French President Emmanuel Macron. Macron’s diplomatic efforts to prevent the war failed, but he’s not giving up: the two men have spoken four times since […]