School of Politics and International Relations

Professor Rainbow Murray, Macron: the honeymoon's over

25 August 2017

Professor Rainbow Murray writes for the IPS Journal, discussing the French President's rapidly declining popularity. She said: “His initial popularity levels were never sustainable and were an indication of people’s faith in a blank canvas onto which they projected their own hopes. As they’ve got to know him better, he’s had more opportunity to disappoint. The aforementioned scandals in his government, the very public resignation of his military chief over a dispute about military spending, and his aloof relationship with the press have all tarnished his image. His unique selling point – his ability to straddle the political right and left – is also potentially his greatest weakness, as every policy risks offending one side or the other.”
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