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France's Macron Wins Parliament Majority by Default

France's Macron Wins Parliament Majority by Default

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org)

He's far from a popular choice, his May 7 election dubious at best. As president, he assures disturbing continuity, not badly needed constructive change.

In first round parliamentary voting, his La Republique En March (LREM) party got 32% support, turnout less than 50%, a dismal showing.

LREM winning a runoff 361-seat majority of parliamentary seats (out of 577) was achieved by default - turnout only 43%. Support for LREM candidates was achieved because of mass opposition to alternative choices. 

Unfairly calling Marine Le Pen's National Front fascist cost her a chance to become France's president, perhaps with majority parliament support. 

LREM's legislative control assures continued dirty business as usual. Former Rothschild banker/economy minister Macron is a neoliberal reactionary, an establishment president, not a popular one.

He supports US imperial wars, neoliberal harshness, fewer labor rights, and greater privatizations for maximum corporate predator profits at the expense of popular rights and needs.

Calling for reduced discretionary spending means less for vital social services. Wanting more flexibility from unions for lower labor costs assures higher unemployment, not jobs creation as pledged. 

Like Trump, Macron supports tax cuts for business, benefitting their bottom line, doing nothing to stimulate badly needed economic growth.

He's overwhelmingly despised Francois Hollande with a new face - a boon for finance capital and war-profiteers, disaster for ordinary French people.

Despite control of parliament, Macron lacks a popular mandate. According to Marine Le Pen, weak support could undermine the legitimacy of his legislative majority.

Ahead of Sunday voting, she said "(o)ur country, in order to function in a democratic way, needs (legitimate) opposition…which is not reduced to the bare bones."

"I protest against the fact that there will be no pluralism in our country," following presidential and parliamentary elections.

The outcome of both showed everything changed but stayed the same - the key issue in all Western societies, especially America.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. 

VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org

My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

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