'Ruthless' Macron risks destroying EU reputation in bid to save political career
EMMANUEL Macron risks "permanently damaging" the EU's reputation in a desperate bid to save his political career, a leading commentator believes.
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The last few days have been a chastening experience for the increasingly unpopular French President, as he finds himself in a battle to secure his presidential career. Mr Macron has been forced into a U-turn over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. On Wednesday, he announced a third nationwide lockdown to counter the surging infection rates sweeping the country, having hoped to avoid further restrictions.
The French President was attacked from all sides, as his opponents rounded on him.
Marine Le Pen, his closest rival in next April's presidential elections, added insult to injury, telling Mr Macron that the EU's disastrous vaccine rollout had become his Waterloo.
Experts predict that the economic fallout from the new lockdown could be much worse than that of the autumn, increasing the political damage for Mr Macron.
Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Sherelle Jacobs accused the French President of seeking to leverage the threat of a vaccine war with the UK to help solve his domestic political problems.
Ms Jacobs said: "In his ruthless approach to solving his own domestic political troubles, Macron risks permanently damaging the EU’s already tarnished reputation.
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"His willingness to risk a vaccine trade war to save his domestic image could end in the utter discrediting of Brussels’ commitment to the rule of law."
She wrote: "The EU supposedly prides itself on being a global champion of intellectual property (IP) rights.
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"If it were to follow through, pharma firms may well decide that they have no choice but to flee in order to safeguard their IP.
"Many would flock to the UK, which has built one of the world’s largest pharma industries on the back of its uncompromising stance on protecting research and development.
"It would be a vindication of Brexit and a bizarre own-goal for Brussels."