PARIS — In this era of illiberal authoritarianism, Emmanuel Macron is trademarking a paradoxical brand: the liberal strongman.
The young, centrist French president, flush with electoral successes that have wiped out the old political class and given him an absolute majority in parliament, is taking full advantage of the Fifth Republic constitution, made to measure for General Charles de Gaulle, to consolidate his power.
With bone-crunching handshakes and plain speaking, he seems determined to show himself as much the alpha male on the global stage as Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin or Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan, but in the cause of liberal values — …read more
Source: European Voice
