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What the French election’s Le Pen v Macron showdown could mean for China policy
- A second term for the French president could see him take a tougher approach to Beijing, but some business figures would welcome a pro-market winner
- The far-right candidate is more of a wild card but could have a major impact on the European Union as a whole
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China watchers are closely eyeing the tight finish to France’s presidential election for clues on the future of Beijing’s ties with the European Union.
One of the bloc’s pre-eminent foreign policy powers, France will decide on April 24 on whether to hand incumbent Emmanuel Macron another five-year term, or whether far-right candidate Marine Le Pen deserves a stint in the Elysée.
Five years ago Macron beat Le Pen by a landslide in the second round, but with polls tightening and Le Pen receiving her best-ever showing of 23.4 per cent in the first round, it is set to go down to the wire.
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China has barely featured in a campaign that has been dominated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and the continued fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic.
01:10
Sanctions on Russia will dampen global economy, Xi tells French and German leaders
Sanctions on Russia will dampen global economy, Xi tells French and German leaders
With Le Pen comes huge uncertainty: a track record of cosying up to authoritarians and accusations of racism and xenophobia.
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Macron, meanwhile, has championed a multifaceted EU policy towards China geared around the idea of “strategic autonomy” – a concept often encouraged by Chinese leaders.
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