Which Europe After the French Election?

Marc Lazar, Professor of history and political sociology at Sciences-Po Paris and LUISS
Romano Prodi, Former President of the European Commission
Matteo Renzi, Former Prime Minister of Italy
Moderated by Andrea Goldstein, Director of Nomisma
Introduction by Michael G. Plummer, Director of SAIS Europe and ENI Professor of International Economics  

May 12, 2017

Scholar Marc Lazar was joined by two former Italian prime ministers, Romano Prodi and Matteo Renzi, at Johns Hopkins SAIS Europe for a public debate on the French Presidential elections. The panelists discussed if the new tenant of the Élysée Palace will be able to relaunch the process of political and economic integration in the European Union. They also offered insights about what the election of Emmanuel Macron means for Italy, where social divisions and skepticism toward the elite is on the rise. The panelists remain cautiously optimistic for the future of the Franco-German relationship as they await the elections for the National Assembly in June. It remains to be seen if Macron’s year-old party La République en Marche! (The Republic on the Move!) will be able to garner enough support to govern or if Mr. Macron will have to preside over a minority government or form a coalition.