FAZ early thinkers: what happens next with Minister for Family Affairs Spiegel?

1. Macron has to worry

2. Fear of a Russian offensive

3. More than four million fled Ukraine

1. Macron has to worry

Cai Tore Philippsen

Responsible editor for the FAZ.NET editorial team

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President Emmanuel Macron defeated right-wing populist Marine Le Pen in the first ballot.

Whether he will win the runoff is uncertain.

Winner Macron:

In two weeks, on April 24, Macron and Le Pen will face off in the runoff election for the office of French President.

The two favorites thus prevailed in the first ballot.

The outcome of the vote is considered decisive for France's future European policy and thus also for the future of the EU.

Loser Mélenchon:

The candidate of the left-wing "People's Union", Jean-Luc Mélenchon, came in third and just missed making it into the second round.

According to projections, right-wing extremist Eric Zemmour, socialist Anne Hidalgo and Green Yannick Jadot only had single-digit votes.

Run-off election:

It will now be exciting how the supporters of the eliminated candidates will decide in the run-off election.

And if they go to the polls at all.

Left-wing voters in particular are disappointed with Macron. Mélenchon's supporters do not agree with his announcement that he will raise the retirement age from 62 to 65, nor with the plan to oblige recipients of basic social benefits to work hours

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2. Fear of Russian offensive

Ukrainian authorities want to move as many civilians as possible from eastern Ukraine to the west at the beginning of the new week.

Donbass:

Ukraine continues to prepare for fierce fighting with Russia in the east of the country.

The army is prepared for the "big battles," said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's adviser, Mykhailo Podoliak.

After the withdrawal of the Russian troops around Kyiv and the statements from Moscow that they now want to concentrate on the Donbass, a Russian offensive is expected there.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer travels to Moscow this Monday to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Weapons and sanctions:

In a telephone conversation with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Selenskyj renewed his demands for tougher sanctions against Russia and more weapons for Ukraine.

But Germany and other countries continue to shy away from stopping gas and oil imports.

There is an embargo for coal – but only in late summer.

While British Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised armored vehicles and more anti-ship missiles during his trip to Kyiv, Germany is also reticent about concerns about the Bundeswehr's ability to defend itself.

Germany has already supplied anti-tank missiles, ammunition and other weapons on a large scale.

Ukraine now wants to buy "Marder" tanks directly from German manufacturers.

Pro-Russian demonstrations:

In some German cities, there were thousands of participants in pro-Russian rallies.

In Frankfurt, for example, hundreds of people with Russian and Soviet flags gathered in front of the Alte Oper.

The police had banned a motorcade and stopped many cars with Russian flags.

Many people demonstrated against these rallies.

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3. Over four million fled Ukraine

The Russian war of aggression in Ukraine has been going on for a good six weeks.

More than 4.5 million people have already left the country.

Women and children:

Because men between the ages of 18 and 60 are not allowed to leave the country, it is almost exclusively women and children who flee.

According to the UN refugee agency UNHCR, this is the largest refugee movement in Europe since the Second World War.

Ukraine has to shoulder the greatest burden itself.

In addition to the 4.5 million citizens who have fled abroad, UNHCR estimates that 7.1 million people are displaced within the country.