The initial celebrations following French President Emmanuel Macron‘s election in 2017 seem a long way off as the embattled leader and his government backed down in the face of violent protests.
But wasn’t avoiding unrest and the entrenchment of populist rage precisely what his presidency was supposed to achieve?
After his election, many saw Macron as the saviour of the political centre in a time of extremes.
On this Reality Check, we examine the ways in which Macron’s government has apparently taken a cavalier attitude to civil liberties, labour protections, human rights, as well as the standards of accountability essential to a functioning democracy.
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Source: Al Jazeera News
