Spiegel: If Macron Fails, Europe Fails

Emmanuel Macron won the French presidential election without support of a traditional political party on a platform of strengthening the European Union in revolutionary ways. But the yellow-vest protests that began over a fuel tax are eroding his authority. He has led numerous reforms for the French job market, wage negotiations, taxation and the budget deficit. “Macron has already reformed his country more profoundly than all the presidents before him – at least since Mitterrand, who implemented an important wave of modernization starting in 1983,” explains Henrik Enderlein for Spiegel Online. Yet the yellow vest protesters are impatient. “They want results. Immediately…. They want a revolution and they want more net income. They don't care what this might mean economically for their highly indebted country.” They direct populist fury is at elite, intelligent, wealthy leaders and do not care about collateral damage. Germany and other EU members must support Macron, boosting his authority by accepting reforms, too. This includes adding flexibility and building trust. Otherwise, the EU’s days are numbered. – YaleGlobal