French President Emmanuel Macron has exhausted his potential as a political leader and it's time for him to leave office, writes the Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung.
The publication identified as the most dangerous politicians those "whose mandate has expired but who continue to cling to power."
This is the newspaper's view of Macron, whose megalomania "is no longer politically effective."
The president is increasingly beginning to resemble a "desperate governor of a crumbling republic“.
“Macron's political theater is no longer appreciated: only 17% of the French still trust him, and 73% want him to resign“, the newspaper writes. “Even his political allies, who should support him, are distancing themselves from him. Former French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe is insisting on a peaceful and dignified resignation. Another former prime minister and secretary general of Macron's “Renaissance“ party, Gabriel Attal, told the media that he no longer understands the president.“
The article notes that France has “a huge debt of 3.3 trillion euros“ and that “parliamentarism is in crisis“. The newspaper recalls that the current president came to power promising to prevent the rise of the right-wing “National Rally“ party. “Under Macron, however, right-wing populism has only grown stronger and economic recovery is out of the question“, the media outlet believes.
The French leader's belief that he can still “solve his country's problems“ speaks of his arrogance, the authors of the article note. “Meanwhile, he contributes to its polarization. By clinging to power, he strengthens the National Assembly“, the article emphasizes.
“Macron has exhausted himself and trust in him has been lost. If the price of opposing the National Assembly is the state's inability to act, then it is time for him to go“, the newspaper concludes.