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French President Macron recently gave a very shocking interview to the Economist newspaper.
Source: https://www.economist.com/europe/2019/11/07/emmanuel-macron-warns-europe-nato-is-becoming-brain-dead (https://www.economist.com/europe/2019/11/07/emmanuel-macron-warns-europe-nato-is-becoming-brain-dead)
Some of his most shocking statements:

“What we are currently experiencing is the brain death of NATO,”
Europe stands on “the edge of a precipice”, he says, and needs to start thinking of itself strategically as a geopolitical power; otherwise we will “no longer be in control of our destiny.
He was asked whether he believed in the effectiveness of Article Five, the idea that if one NATO member is attacked all would come to its aid, which many analysts think underpins the alliance's deterrent effect. “I don't know,” he replies, “but what will Article Five mean tomorrow?”

What is the reason for such statements and some other actions by Macron as the recent refusal to allow Northern Macedonia and Albania to become official candidates for EU accession?
Does Macron think that after the departure of Merkel, he should naturally become the new leader of Europe?
Does he want to show strength that nothing can be resolved without France?
Is Macron at all capable of taking on the role of leader of a new Europe, especially because of his blockade of Macedonia and Albania, for what the EU has lost a lot on its credibility and appeal?
What do you think?

Macron is a socialist. Who is he going to lead? Germany would like to lead as well, right?
The most important question is, who are they going to defend from? Russia? It's obvious that on the continent there's only the EU, who is going to support one another anyway, and there's Russia. The rest is too small and too weak to start a conflict. Turkey is big enough but it's burning bridges to both the EU and Russia so it's mostly on its own. There's really nobody to protect the EU from. I say military budget of most countries is too high and only leads to wasting resources.

Macron's not a well-liked leader, so he's unlikely to last long anyhow. All French presidents have been badly regarded by the French people in recent years, at least since Sarkozy.

As for Macedonia and Albania... I'm surprised in a way, but no so much in another. Macedonia literally changed it's name to avoid Greek objections to EU accession, but anti-EU/NATO sentiment has been increasing in Macedonia anyway, so it appears it's all stick and no carrot for the Macedonia. No Christmas cards from Brussels, and straight to bed without dessert.

Albania? ??? When were they ever likely to join the EU? That whole part of the world is incredibly corrupt in a very open, overt way. And Albania is supposedly the quintessential example of corrupt culture in that region. Yeah, I know the EU is corrupt too, but they actually make an effort to hide it in the EU.

No. They all like Mac a ron i  better.     :D

Macaroni isn't a leader, just another puppet of banksters.

He may want to be leader, he may think he can be leader. But really it doesn't matter who is in charge, Germany is the most powerful nation in Europe, Germany has by some distance the biggest economy, and so the German leader, whoever that may be, has the loudest voice and is in charge.
Similar to how the US is still the global superpower despite having an orange-skinned half-wit in charge.

Very good points 
I think that EU have many issues like problem with immigrants,   with Balkan region,  Russia,  relationship with China and America etc.
We have 2 separate blocks,  "old " and "new " Europe with very different interest and goals.
Until now,  Merkel could lead EU in the right direction but she will retire from politics soon.
Macron have desire to replace her but his actions and words already made some damage to reputation of EU.
Macron blocked North Macedonia and Albania on their way to EU and it's very serious mistake.
Balkan region is unstable and really need help and support from EU.
It seems that Macron don't have understanding and vision about it.

He is more like the old kind of deep state leader who want all right away from citizens to the elite to bankrupt producing industry in europe and weak borders to make invaders come and take all the jobs and push wages lower. He also wants taxbrakes for the rich and multinational deep state structures and own army to invade russia and usa and other regions if not kept in bay.

the biggest problem is that the population in western liberal countries realise that the state systematically works against them

It seems Angela Merkel's time as the unelected  leader of the European Union has come to and end but I don't think Macron is the man to replace Merkel as the new European leader, he has been unable to deal with the yellow jacket protests which has been ongoing for the last 11 months all because he decided to raise fuel prices.

it makes me laugh how modern socialists say "capitalism is the evil problem", and yet the government deciding the price of everyday goods is silently ignored. I'm sure they'd all start ejaculating from their mouths if some Prime Minister started reducing prices, and the fact that the subsidies were all borrowed from future taxpayers would be dismissed with "shut up, that's too complicated, who are you, Dr. Spock?" ::)

I am living in Europe not in France and I truly respect Macron.
He seems to have a vision for the EU and he makes suggestions in order to improve the Union. The recent Veto that he raised for the new countries that want to join the EU was so much appreciated.
That means that he wants to reform the outdated rules for joining the union.

Macron is the second biggest European leader but in my opinion he has trouble staying in power. Reforms within his country that he implemented were very unpopular and IMHO any attempt to save face comes mostly through international diplomacy and longshot comments about the EU. Macron playes it out as a visionary but in reality his core interest is, as with any politician, to be re-elected.

+1 to this.

Even the rules in the EU are more or less subservient to the people in Washington, who provide large subsidies and NATO support to them. So Macaron is just another pawn to make France feel cool, that's it. The New World Order decides everything, didn't ya know?

I cannot see your statements and I really cannot believe why you are saying that.
Germany is the coercive leader and they don't do anything that's the reason why Europe has gone worse. Macron is a leader who tries to bring reforms in the union and people should recognize that.

macron is a joke, and france is a joke it is not even a authentic european country but more some kind of racist african-muslim colony. just look at the french football team, africans and muslims that live in france hate it.

french revolution, atheism and liberalism have destroyed the original galic french population.

France with their high taxes that are even higher for the rich. France with their Muslim problem. France that couldn't keep their borders and citizens safe.
Macron is not a strong leader. He's a guy you joke with, a party guy. I'm not Russian but when I think of a strong leader I see people like Putin, Orban, Erdogan, even Merkel.
In that group Macron looks like that small younger guy you allow to go out with you if he promises to pay for the drinks.

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So all the examples that you mention are conservative leaders some of them right sided.
I don't think that you have to be conservative in order to be a strong leader. Macron is a leader due to his ideas not due to the power that he force over his citizens.

I'd agree about the strong leaders bit. Different definitions of strong, a forceful leader can be strong in one sense, a good leader strong in another.

Regardless, I do still think as well as ideas there is obviously a lot of power inherent to the office. The European leader is not the 'best' leader in Europe nor the 'strongest' (whichever definition), but rather the leader of the biggest economy. It would take a monumentally bad German leader to cede control of Europe to France

we need micro economic leadership, not large scale political one.

the problem is the banks are gamblers, or simply dont trust everyone else, including they are some kind of a closet corrupt society.

banks lend money to each other and live on the back of all others.

regards

You are right about that. I based my definition of strong on 2 things.
1. How well the leaders defend their position and ideas on the global stage. How much other leaders are willing to step back and let them do their thing.
2. How much they're respected in their own country.

You have to be respected in your country to be strong but you also have to be liked or feared. Usually it's best if you are liked. Kim Dzong Un is feared but I wouldn't call him a strong leader. If we are comparing socialists Xi Jinping outclasses him.


Strong or good, that's right, but Macron isn't strong and isn't good. He's a supporter of globalization and one big strong Europe with 1 leadership and one army. I don't think this is such a good idea.


You talk like a yellow vest. I have nothing against them, just saying.

Agree with that. The whole idea of a European army is ridiculous. Europe spends a lot of the time arguing with itself. The army would never work.

Well,  I think it's issue about future of EU and idea about united Europe.
It's obvious that if some country wants to be strong in global community and global relationship,  it's impossible without strong army as we can see from examples with China and Russia.
EU wants to be global leader like America and China but can't because they are not united and have many different opinions about global politics and relationships.
Macron understand it and trying to build united and stronger EU but real question is what other EU countries  think about it and if they support it.
Because EU don't have one policy but 27 or 28,  they are like paper tiger in the global community and can't really influence others like America or China.

soldiers are psychologically rather like football supporters or a wolfpack; tribal & territorial

If I was a foreign army fighting the EU army, a biiiiiig part of my tactics would be to try to split the EU army, to turn the regiments against each other. And it would be really easy, whichever way Macron wants to arrange the smorgesbord on the plate