Gabriel Attal, the presidential candidate of France, presented an ambitious plan for his campaign on Thursday, promising that if he wins next year's election, he will make France part of a powerful and economic "United States of Europe."
Realizing the European Dream
Attal, in his speech to parliament members, former ministers, and employees of a space startup in the heart of the Champagne region, said: "The great mission of my generation is to realize the European dream and the birth of the United States of Europe." He also quoted Victor Hugo, the famous French writer, emphasizing that he "does not want his generation to witness Europe becoming the fiftieth state of the United States or the twenty-fourth province of China."
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Challenges Ahead for Attal
Attal, 37 years old and from the center-right, is trying to position himself as one of the most pro-European options among other candidates. Despite trailing behind his main rivals like Édouard Philippe and Marine Le Pen in polls, he has sought to distinguish himself from Philippe, who has remained relatively silent on Brussels-related issues since the start of his campaign in May.
This strategy may carry high risks, as voters in France are less optimistic about the future of the European Union compared to other European countries. Many are angry about last year's broad trade agreement between the European Commission and Latin America, as this agreement is seen as a threat to France's agricultural industry. Additionally, EU environmental regulations are considered very stringent for French farmers.
Criticism of European Leaders
Attal paid tribute to Emmanuel Macron's European legacy in his speech while criticizing Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, accusing her of ignoring the Union's problems in her speech on Wednesday. Attal described this speech as "too little and too late" and also criticized the trade agreement she signed last year with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
If Attal wins the election, it will be up to von der Leyen to determine the career fate of her partner, Stefan Sejourne, the Commissioner for Industry. Sejourne recently stated that he believes there will be no conflict of interest if Attal wins, but he considered it a "legitimate question."
Support for Attal's Plans
Attal's campaign manager, Maxime Cordier, announced that a group of Members of the European Parliament will soon support these plans in an opinion article. Valérie Hayer, a Member of the European Parliament and head of the Renew group supporting Attal's candidacy, emphasized that Attal is the first candidate to present a plan for reforming the Union and accused the European Commission and some member states of "stagnation" in implementing Mario Draghi's programs.
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