Alex Lantier — French President Macron calls for military buildup in foreign policy address

At the centre of Macron’s policy is an attempt to re-assert French influence in its former colonial sphere in Syria, North Africa, and the Sahel. “Two great zones are the focus of our efforts in the struggle against terror: Syria and Iraq on the one hand, and Libya and the Sahel on the other,” he said. He announced that he would “soon” travel to Ouagadougou, the capital of the former French colony of Burkina Faso, which has played a significant role in the French war in neighbouring Mali.

Neoliberalism, neo-imperialism, neocolonialism; what else is new?

Macron’s agenda shows that the promises the European bourgeoisies made as they launched the European institutions after World War II—that it would never again fall into war, economic depression, and dictatorship—were false. Unless they are stopped by a conscious political movement of the international working class against war, the imperialist powers are again heading towards military catastrophes on a scale as great, or even greater, than the wars of the previous century.

WSWS
French President Macron calls for military buildup in foreign policy address
Alex Lantier

Only 40 per cent approve of his performance, the Ifop poll showed, a 14 per cent plunge since July, although another poll has placed his rating as low as 36 per cent.

The dramatic decline since his landslide election victory in May, when he enjoyed a 62 per cent approval rating, will do little to enhance Mr Macron’s standing as he hosts a summit on Monday with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, and Italian and Spanish leaders.

That didn't take long.

The far-Left leader, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who the poll indicates is seen as the most effective opposition leader by a majority of voters, on Sunday urged his supporters to “take the struggle to the streets”.

The Telegraph
Majority of people in France now dissatisfied with Macron

David Chazan