COVID-19 will shift Macron’s policy focus in France

Subject

Macron's support.

Significance

Support for President Emmanuel Macron has declined in recent weeks. Reasons include the government’s mixed messaging concerning the use of face masks to combat COVID-19, as well as the impact of the disease in exposing regional inequality and under-investment in public services. The economic and social impact of the crisis could push Macron leftwards, favouring greater state ownership and public spending in the coming years.

Impacts

• Macron could strengthen his support by considerably increasing infrastructure spending in more deprived regions.
• Macron will likely look for ways significantly to reform and strengthen the EU’s capacity in health policy.
• Some of Macron’s main EU initiatives, such as security and defence integration, may now become lower-order concerns.