{"id":207774,"date":"2019-03-31T01:27:45","date_gmt":"2019-03-31T05:27:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=207774"},"modified":"2019-03-31T01:27:45","modified_gmt":"2019-03-31T05:27:45","slug":"macrons-pro-eu-party-kicks-off-european-parliament-campaign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2019\/03\/31\/macrons-pro-eu-party-kicks-off-european-parliament-campaign\/","title":{"rendered":"Macron’s pro-EU party kicks off European Parliament campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The French leader’s proposals included creating an agency to protect EU nations’ elections from cyberattacks and other manipulations and a ban on foreign powers financing EU political parties. (File Photo<\/a>: Emmanuel Macron\/Facebook<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

PARIS \u2013 With Brexit looming and nationalism rising, French President Emmanuel Macron’s pro-EU party has launched its campaign for the European Parliament elections.<\/p>\n

The centrist Republic on the Move party and its allies held a rally Saturday in the Paris suburb of Aubervilliers. The group calls itself Renaissance.<\/p>\n

Polls suggest Renaissance will be among France’s top two vote-getters in the May election, which takes place in each European Union nation between May 23-26 and in France on May 26. The group appears slightly ahead of Marine Le Pen’s anti-immigration, far-right National Rally party.<\/p>\n

Saturday’s Renaissance rally was led by Nathalie Loiseau, who quit this week as France’s European Affairs minister to lead the campaign. Loiseau notably handled France’s Brexit preparations.<\/p>\n

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and several government officials attended the event.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome want to make us believe that the past was a better time, they want to come back to nationalism, to Europe’s demons… don’t let them win!\u201d, Loiseau said, expressing concerns about the rise of far-right parties in many EU countries.<\/p>\n

She pointed to the situation in Britain, where she said \u201csorcerer’s apprentices\u201d pushed for the country’s departure from the EU \u201cwith no vision, no project.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow the damage is done. Britain is leaving us without knowing where it goes. Confusion reigns, concerns are growing,\u201d she told the rally.<\/p>\n

Loiseau said the EU should make fighting climate change and improving its responses to immigration issues the continent’s top priorities.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe must ensure a more efficient control of our (EU) external borders, by dedicating more personnel and more resources and further assisting countries that are on the front line,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

At the same time, she insisted EU must better welcome refugees who are fleeing wars.<\/p>\n

\u201cEurope has known crisis and needs a renaissance… don’t wait for a better Europe. Change it!\u201d she concluded to wide applause by supporters, who chanted \u201cWe will win! We will win!\u201d<\/p>\n

French voters will fill 79 of the European legislature’s 705 seats. Macron hopes his pro-EU vision can inspire voters beyond France’s borders, too. In some EU countries, however, support is growing for nationalist politicians who want to reinstate borders and roll back the European co-operation built up since World War II.<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, Macron called for a \u201cEuropean Renaissance\u201d in an open letter published across the EU. He called on voters to choose a stronger EU and to reject nationalist parties.<\/p>\n

The French leader’s proposals included creating an agency to protect EU nations’ elections from cyberattacks and other manipulations and a ban on foreign powers financing EU political parties.<\/p>\n

\u2013\u2013\u2013<\/p>\n

Angela Charlton contributed to the story<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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