En Marche: From a Movement to a Government

France’s En Marche had begun as a grassroots movement and had evolved under Emmanuel Macron’s strong leadership. Its sustainability would depend on reconciling these contrasting styles.

Given its distinctiveness, it was important to ask what LREM’s rise meant for democracy in Europe. Was the combination of Macron’s strong leadership and grassroots consultation sustainable? Could this model work in other countries, or was it a product of particular French characteristics?

During his first year in office, French President Emmanuel Macron had outlined a series of proposals for reforming European institutions; in the spring of 2018 he was launching a campaign to shake up the European Parliament election in 2019. Through it all, he had adhered to a coherent philosophy of how politics in the twenty-first century should work.

• Primary Source

The Conversation, 13.11.17: Emmanuel Macron, this 19th century thinker offers a warning about seeking the middle ground http://www.europeansources.info/record/emmanuel-macron-this-19th-century-thinker-offers-a-warning-about-seeking-the-middle-ground/

ESO In Focus, April 2018: Macron's vision for post-Brexit European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/emmanuel-macron-puts-forward-his-vision-for-post-brexit-european-union/

ECER: Commentary, 10.04.18: Macron Takes Aim at European Politics http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_macron_takes_aim_at_european_politics

The Conversation, 04.08.17: Can Emmanuel Macron’s big gamble to save the EU really pay off? (et al) http://www.europeansources.info/record/can-emmanuel-macrons-big-gamble-to-save-the-eu-really-pay-off/

Politico, 09.03.18: Macron’s sham democracy https://www.politico.eu/article/macron-populism-sham-democracy-plans-to-revamp-decision-making-disappointing/

CAPX, 20.04.18: Macron and the federalists are losing Europe’s battle of ideas https://capx.co/macron-and-the-federalists-are-losing-europes-battle-of-ideas/

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