Emmanuel Macron's presidency stands accused of presiding over the systematic unravelling of the French economy and a dangerous deepening of social divisions, according to a blistering new polemic from bestselling author and political figure Éric Zemmour.
In his latest work, Zemmour delivers a forensic and damning indictment of Macron's two terms in office, arguing that the leader's policies have left the nation weaker, poorer, and more fractured than ever before.
An Economy 'Driven into the Ground'
The book points to a series of contentious economic reforms as evidence of Macron's destructive impact. Zemmour savages the deeply unpopular pension reform, which raised the retirement age and sparked mass protests across the country, characterising it as an assault on the hard-working French citizen.
Furthermore, he highlights the soaring national debt, accusing the government of fiscal irresponsibility on a grand scale. The critique suggests that rather than modernising the economy, Macron's stewardship has crippled it with excessive taxation and bureaucratic overreach, stifling business growth and innovation.
A Nation Divided: Immigration and Identity
Beyond economics, Zemmour trains his focus on what he describes as Macron's catastrophic failure on immigration and social cohesion. The author contends that the President's approach has led to unchecked migration, overwhelming public services and diluting national identity.
This, coupled with a perceived failure to integrate communities, is presented as the primary catalyst for social unrest and a growing sense of unease within towns and cities across France. The book posits that Macron has prioritised globalist ideals over the needs and security of the French people.
The 'Jupiterian' President: A Leadership Critique
A central theme of the critique is Macron's much-discussed leadership style, often labelled 'Jupiterian' for its top-down, presidential nature. Zemmour argues that this has resulted in a profound democratic deficit, with the President allegedly ignoring the will of the people and ruling by decree, bypassing meaningful parliamentary debate.
This autocratic approach, the book claims, is evident in his handling of the Yellow Vests protests and the use of executive power to force through contentious legislation, eroding public trust in democratic institutions.
A Legacy in Question
Ultimately, Zemmour's work presents a portrait of a presidency that has fundamentally failed its citizens. It concludes that Macron's project of transformation has backfired spectacularly, leaving behind a legacy of economic stagnation and societal discord rather than the renewed, confident France he promised.
While Macron's supporters would fiercely dispute this characterisation, the book taps into a significant vein of public discontent, framing the upcoming political battles as a referendum on his seven years in power.
