"Racket, fiasco": France blasts the Commission

"Surrender," "racketeering," "defeat": the French political class was unanimous on Monday in denouncing the trade agreement concluded the day before between the European Union and the United States, with the opposition particularly criticizing Macron's party.

Emmanuel Macron, who has taken a firm line against the United States in recent months, had not yet reacted early Monday evening, but his Prime Minister, François Bayrou, deplored on X "a dark day" for Europe, an "alliance of free peoples, gathered to assert their values and defend their interests," which "resolves to submission."

Criticism was fierce, including within the presidential camp, where some deplored an "admission of weakness." "This is a defeat for the European Commission, which failed to establish a balance of power and properly defend European interests," responded Pieyre-Alexandre Anglade, a Macronist MP.

Interior Minister and LR leader Bruno Retailleau considered this agreement to be "very bad news for Europe." "It is a symptom of a problem: that of (its) weakness and its unhealthy dependence on the United States." "This is not an agreement, it is racketeering! (...) France cannot tolerate it," declared Laurent Wauquiez, leader of the LR deputies.

Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reached a customs agreement in Scotland on Sunday, stipulating that European products exported to the United States will be subject to a 15% tariff. The Europeans hope this will prevent a trade escalation. The EU is committed to $750 billion in energy purchases, aimed in particular at replacing Russian gas, and to $600 billion in additional investments in the United States.

The opposition, for its part, not only denounced the agreement, but attacked the executive for its supposed inaction.

"There are tweets that sound like admissions of powerlessness. A French prime minister doesn't just whine" on social media, criticized Olivier Faure, the first secretary of the Socialist Party. "He takes positions, defends our interests, and organizes a confrontation with Ursula von der Leyen within the European Union." "France must reject this capitulation rather than behave like a bunch of commentators without influence," added Manuel Bompard, coordinator of La France Insoumise.

The far right has joined the left in the chorus of criticism. "Ursula von der Leyen accepted Europe's trade surrender yesterday, to the detriment of our exporters, farmers, and manufacturers," denounced Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally. The day before, Marine Le Pen had described it as "a political, economic, and moral fiasco."

Some have pointed out the double game of the RN, which deplores the agreement despite its affinities with the American president.

"Marine Le Pen's allies went to the Republican Party congress (editor's note: American) to support Donald Trump (...) Madame Le Pen, Monsieur Bardella" took "Trump as a model," castigated former Macronist minister Clément Beaune, now head of the High Commission for Planning.

"Personal message to Macronie: the fool is not the one who proposes an incredibly unbalanced deal for his own benefit, but the one who accepts it to his total detriment!" Marine Le Pen retorted on Monday.