Xi manipulates Macron

Stalin changed the fate of France by 180 degrees in Yalta in 1945. He insisted on including the republic among the victorious countries in World War II, while Churchill and Roosevelt were against it.

The Kremlin needed this focus to support the French Communist Party, which was influential at the time. In 1946, the Communists took first place in the National Assembly elections and later became the second largest party in the country, maintaining its influence until the height of the Cold War.

Churchill and Roosevelt did not support Stalin's whim because France had shamefully surrendered to Germany in 1940: the Vichy government had fought on Hitler's side. Stalin justified his ultimatum by the resistance movement led by General de Gaulle.

The Kremlin tyrant sincerely hoped that the Communists would seize power in France. The post-war crisis, the country's lack of money, and the political depression caused by collaboration with the Nazis fueled the flames of the communist marginals’ electoral victory. The Marshall Plan prevented the Kremlin's red dream from coming true: American money changed not only the situation in the country but also the mood of the citizens.

“The Kremlin tyrant sincerely hoped that the Communists would seize power in France. The post-war crisis, the country's lack of money, and the political depression caused by collaboration with the Nazis fueled the flames of the communist marginals’ electoral victory. The Marshall Plan prevented the Kremlin's red dream from coming true: American money changed not only the situation in the country but also the mood of the citizens”

Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle held a grudge against the United States for many years and nurtured sympathy for the USSR, as did other French presidents. 

For years, France did not suppress the activities of the Communist Party, although this was demanded by the main donors of the Marshall Plan. Trade with the USSR only grew.

At De Gaulle's suggestion, France withdrew from NATO in 1966. The main reason was that the British and Americans irritated the general: in particular, he was dissatisfied with the permanent leadership of the United States and Great Britain in the Alliance, demanding that Paris' position be strengthened. The offended general's ideology was followed by his successors in the Elysee Palace until the 2000s: President Sarkozy led France into NATO only in 2009.

De Gaulle proposed the concept of "Europe from the Atlantic to the Urals," by which he meant the search for effective cooperation between the Old World and the Soviet Union, although the alliance was already committed to isolating the "communist contagion." De Gaulle promoted this idea even at the UN Assembly and the EU summit.

“This zeal for the Soviet Union is not only gratitude to Stalin, but also a search for a new format of leadership. In the 1940s and 1950s, France was experiencing a crisis of empire collapse, and it became financially and politically dependent on the United States. For decades, Paris has been trying to find its own special place in Europe, supporting its interests with both capitalism and communism”

This zeal for the Soviet Union is not only gratitude to Stalin, but also a search for a new format of leadership. In the 1940s and 1950s, France was experiencing a crisis of empire collapse, and it became financially and politically dependent on the United States. For decades, Paris has been trying to find its own special place in Europe, supporting its interests with both capitalism and communism.

The current French leader can definitely be called "de Macron," because he has said many messages in the style of de Gaulle and has encountered the same problems.

... And about autonomy from the United States, and about economic cooperation with China, with which we need to find a geopolitical understanding. The only thing missing is a withdrawal from NATO, but it's probably a little scary to be left alone with partners Putin and Xi.

Even the marginals in France are growing in the polls like mushrooms after the rain. Today, the far-right Le Pen would win the election over Macron by 10 points: 55% to 45%.

That is why the head of the Elysee Palace finds a traditional way out of all extreme situations: knocking on the door of the East. In his case, to the very Far East. For some reason, however, no one will ever tell him that de Gaulle's "communist" story is not a case of success, but of mistakes. And from each such trouble, the West pulled Paris out of it. 

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About the author. Orest Sokhar, journalist, editor-in-chief of Obozrevatel

The editorial board does not always share the opinions expressed by blog authors.