France’s Presidential Elections: The Need for a China Agenda
Goulard, Sébastien. France’s presidential elections : the need for a China agenda. The Diplomat, 3 December 2016. URL : http://thediplomat.com/2016/12/frances-presidential-elections-the-need-for-a-china-agenda/ (consulté le 3 décembre 2016).
After Brexit and Donald Trump’s success in the American elections in 2016, several elections will be held in 2017 in two major European countries: Germany and France.
China will be carefully scrutinizing these elections. Because of Brexit, Beijing needs to define new partnerships with Continental Europe. In Germany, although her immigration policy has been under criticism, Angela Merkel still has some chance of being elected for a fourth term. In France, the game is not yet over. According to the latest polls, current President François Hollande is very unlikely to be re-elected due to the sluggish economy. Marine Le Pen, leader of the far right movement “Front National” (National Front) has seen her popularity increase since the last regional elections in 2015, but she still faces a glass ceiling that may prevent her from being the next French president. François Fillon, who was chosen through the primary elections of the main right-wing party “les Républicains” (the Republicans) in late November 2016, has the most chance of being elected president in May 2017.
Foreign affairs is not traditionally a determining factor in French presidential elections. In their initial programs and declarations, candidates have timidly unveiled their positions on the diplomatic policies that France should adopt, focusing exclusively on Syria and relations with Russia. Fillon in particular has been defending a new partnership with Russia. Although Moscow is a key player in the resolution of the Syrian crisis and the European Neighborhood Policy, relations between France and Russia are weak in contrast with other major powers such as China. China is France’s fifth largest trading partner after Germany, Italy, the United States and Belgium; investments from China have largely increased in France in the last couple of years.
OpenEdition vous propose de citer ce billet de la manière suivante :
Monique Abud (6 décembre 2016). France’s Presidential Elections: The Need for a China Agenda. Carnets du Centre Chine (CNRS/EHESS). Consulté le 18 janvier 2025 à l’adresse https://doi.org/10.58079/mfvk
