What about France and the Yellow Vests?
The French economy has been underperforming for years. Unemployment, especially among the young, has been chronically high.
Macron has put himself forward as the saviour of the European project, which he claims is facing collapse unless he leads it into the next stage of integration – what he calls a ‘sovereign Europe’, ultimately in charge of finances, taxation, welfare, labour law and immigration.
Where will France and the EU go from here? The future is unpredictable, and it is not very bright.
When people feel they are no longer heard by the elites, protest becomes more vehement. We see it in various forms from Spain to Hungary. In France, it leads to burning cars and looted shops. In Britain, it leads to Brexit. France has once again provided us with a dramatic spectacle of what can happen when a political system implodes.
In Britain, too, we need to heed the warning. If people feel those in power despise them, sooner or later they react.
ROBERT TOMBS on how the French protests are a warning to Europe | Daily Mail Online
Is Spain any better?