Stephen Lendman

At French President Macron’s request, Putin met with him on Monday at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

Differences between them are stark - Putin a world-class leader/statesman, a peace champion, a multipolar world supporter, an anti-imperialist, a believer in mutual cooperation among all nations.

Macron is polar opposite - a world-class scoundrel, a former predatory Rothschild banker, a neoliberal globalist, an imperial supporter, an anti-populist, serving privilege interests exclusively at the expense of liberte, egalite and fraternite.

Russian/French relations at most might improve rhetorically, not substantively with Macron in power - beholden to monied interests and America’s rogue agenda, not peace, equity, justice and normalized relations with Moscow.

In round one voting, he got 24% support, over three-fourths of French voters rejecting him. He represents dirty business as usual continuity, not constructive change ordinary French people deserve - not with him as president.

As Francois Hollande’s economy minister, he handed tax cuts to business, neoliberal harshness for most others, transferring wealth to French oligarchs and other privileged interests at the expense of social justice.

Nothing positive came from his meeting with Putin. The Kremlin web site merely said “Vladimir Putin met with President of France Emmanuel Macron at the Palace of Versailles.”

“Following a narrow format discussion, the two presidents continued their talks at a working breakfast. Later, Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron gave a joint conference.”

Lack of details about their meeting told all. With nothing constructive achieved, what was there to say?

Tass focused mostly on news conference comments by both leaders following their meeting - prefaced by this statement:

“The agenda of the talks in the Palace of Versailles cover(ed) a wide range of issues: from the intensification of Russian-French political, economic and cultural cooperation to the discussion of the situation in Ukraine, Syria and Libya and on the Korean peninsula.”

RT described their meeting as “difficult (and) frank.” The agenda of both countries are world’s apart. Russia is proudly independent, beholden to its people, not a foreign imperial power.

France abdicated its sovereignty - geopolitically to Washington, its economic, monetary, and fiscal policies to Berlin, Brussels and Wall Street.

It’s unclear why Putin went to France, knowing nothing constructive would be accomplished.

At most, he greatly outclassed Macron, the contrast between them striking - a world-class leader compared to an imperial/banker tool, a scoundrel most French people despise.

In February, Putin’s approval rating was at an all-time high of 86.1%. Russians overwhelmingly trust and admire him.

Macron’s predecessor Hollande was overwhelmingly despised, his approval rating at 5% at its low point.

Neoliberal, globalist, imperial tool Macron may match or exceed his depths as his deplorable agenda becomes obvious to everyone.

James Petras calls him a Rothschild “errand boy,” an anti-labor, pro-NATO supporter of Washington’s imperial agenda, “the ‘Bonaparte of the Bourse’ “ - France under his leadership “approaching (a) time of open and declared class war…”

In May 1968, French worker struggles for justice erupted like never before in modern memory, paralyzing the country.

A nationwide revolutionary uprising nearly brought down the de Gaulle government under the slogan: “Be realistic, demand the impossible!”

After weeks of sustained activism, energy waned. Revolutionary reformism failed to achieve its objectives except for modest concessions too little to matter, a historic opportunity lost.

People throughout the West live in oppressive unjust societies, things worsening, not improving. Elitists know their power depends on public acquiescence and resignation to status quo conditions.

Revolutionary change is vitally needed, fundamentally transforming things constructively.

Americans are distracted, brainwashed and indifferent, French people, mainly youths, far more activist.

Maybe deplorable Macron governance will launch another 1968 national uprising. It’s the only chance for responsible change.

Maybe it would inspire similar actions in Europe and elsewhere. The impossible is achievable if enough determined people seize it.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at http://www.sjlendman.blogspot.com.
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