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Janan Ganesh

The last best hope against populism is to expose it to government

Emmanuel Macron has concluded that power often tames radical parties or demonstrates their incompetence. His election call might, in fact, be the most prudent thing he could have done.

Janan GaneshContributor

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In the first-rate Stendhal novel that we call Emmanuel Macron’s life, the protagonist grows bolder and bolder as he rises through France.

He marries who he likes, thanks. He joins Rothschild even as a banking crash turns public opinion against financiers. He sets up a party, gives it his own initials and wins the biggest directly elected office in Europe after jilting his mentor.

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Financial Times

Janan Ganesh is the principal political columnist for the Financial Times.

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    Original URL: https://www.afr.com/world/europe/the-last-best-hope-against-populism-is-to-expose-it-to-government-20240612-p5jl27