French Presidency of the European Union: what is at stake for Emmanuel Macron?

The Pyramid, in front of the Louvre, illuminated in blue to mark the start of the French presidency of the EU.

Paris, January 1, 2022. AFP - JULIEN DE ROSA

Text by: Valérie Gas Follow

1 min

Emmanuel Macron said in his greetings to the French that he wanted 2022 to be that of a "

", clearly showing his ambition to make the French presidency of the EU, which began on January 1 , an opportunity to achieve it.

An ambitious bet as France enters a presidential election year.

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Europe is a chance for France.

Emmanuel Macron repeated it again in his speech of December 31, declaring: " 

 ".

►Read also: The French presidency of the EU, an opportunity to move forward on GAFAM

The stake for the Head of State is therefore to ensure that the French presidency of the European Union helps him to convince the French.

Because in the context of his probable presidential candidacy, there is no doubt that Emmanuel Macron presents himself as the defender of Europe and makes it a distinctive sign in the face of his opponents.

Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre-Dame, Sacré-Coeur, Louvre, Quai d'Orsay, Invalides, Opéra Garnier, Senate ...

All these Parisian places are lit in #bleu #Europe to mark the French presidency of the council of the 'European Union.

#Reuters pic.twitter.com/d71bJgKWXH

- Antony Paone (@PaoneAntony) January 1, 2022

Opponents from the far-right Marine Le Pen or Éric Zemmour, and from the right with Valérie Pécresse, who have well sensed the danger of seeing the president develop his image as a European leader in order to gain an electoral advantage.

From the first day of the French presidency, they attacked Emmanuel Macron's symbolic decision to install the only European flag under the Arc de Triomphe, suing him for lack of patriotism, and urging him to

.

#Flag |

“I am very proud that the European flag flew for a few days under the Arc de Triomphe.

»#QuestionsPol # PFUE2022 pic.twitter.com/AgETcfRY53

- Clement Beaune (@CBeaune) January 2, 2022

A sign of the sensitivity of the political debate on identity and sovereignty, coupled with an indicator of the national challenges of the French presidency of the EU.

►Read again: The right attacks Macron on the European flag under the Arc de Triomphe

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• France

• French politics

• Emmanuel Macron

• European Union

• Presidential France 2022