French journalist Florentin Collomp told Sky News that Emmanuel Macron’s disappointing results at the European elections leave his dream of a reformed and more united European Union in “tatters”. The French President will find himself scarce of allies in the newly formed European Parliament as German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be too busy to keep her own party alliances together to be able to help him. And as the end of Jean-Claude Juncker’s Commission term fast approaches, the French President will have to look at the best person to support as Mr Juncker’s replacement against the German Manfred Weber with whom he does not share the same vision for the EU.
Mr Collomp claimed the French President could attempt to build a centrist consensus behind Belgian candidate Guy Verhofstadt but admitted it would not be sustainable for very long.
But the Figaro reporter argued the one candidate that could save President Macron’s dream could be EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier who would receive the support of both the EPP and the French party.
He said: “Macron’s vision for the EU is a little bit in tatters because the new Parliament is very fragmented.
“He is short of allies, he can’t work with Angela Merkel who has other fish to fry.
“Maybe he can try and build a sort of centrist consensus with Guy Verhofstadt which is not going to be very sustainable but there is going to be a lot of bridge-making and negotiations to try and go ahead.
“But one thing that could come out of this is maybe a chance for Michel Barnier at the head of the Commission as a candidate who has the legitimacy of the Conservatives, the EPP, but also the support of France and Macron and other countries.
“So maybe we could see him as the dark horse of the next European Commission.”
It comes as the French President suffered a crushing defeat with Marine Le Pen’s Front Rally (RN) topping the polls in France for the European elections.
Mr Macron said in a statement there was “some disappointment” that his party had lost first place in the polls to Ms Le Pen.
Ms Le Pen’s group was still jubilated to win, despite the slight decrease in votes.
According to Politico, Jordan Bardella, from the RN, said: “The French people have clearly punished the president tonight, and taught him a lesson in humility.
“Tonight, it’s him and his policies who have been rejected.”
He added: “The European Union defended by the president of the republic is disavowed tonight.
“The EU must now give another orientation to its policy in terms of social issues, economy and migration.”