For who will Serbia cheer for on May 7th: What will Macron and what will Le Pen bring?

Speaking in sports terms, the first half of the French election has been completed. In the second round are independent centrist candidate Emanuel Macron, with 2.5 percent of advantage over rightist and a leader of National Front Marine le Pen. Of course, that advantage is erased in the second round and it remains as a psychological pressure on Le Pen, and moral support to Macron and his followers. The outcome of the French presidential elections are an important as geo-strategic for the whole world, above all for Europe and the European Union. Therefore, the importance is no smaller for Serbia. Political analysts expressed their views in the analysis for portal Telegraf.rs on who should we cheer for in the second half of a duel between Macron and Le Pen on May 7.

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Everything about Marine Le Pen, favorite for the president of France: She claims that Kosovo is Serbian, she supports Puttin and she is a thorn in the eye of Europe!

And while most of our country will be in celebration mood because of big Serbian holiday Djurdjevdan, France will be divided on May 7. Divided in support between visions of France and Europe Macron and Le Pen. 

Foto: Guliver/Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

It is not impossible that some conversation will be started during the celebration who would be better choice for Serbia and our interests. The France opinion is divided as well as Serbs. Divided to not so clear Macron politics on this side of the Europe, but clear support to EU and Le Pen populist statement that our people were wronged in relation to Kosovo, Republika Srpska and the Republika Srpska Krajna.

Also, long time friendship of Serbs and French perpetuated in the monument of gratitude to France on Kalemegdan should not be lost. However, the influence of France was not so great like from the start of the last century. Today, only its opinion as any other force in EU is important.

Foto: Tanjug/Marko Đoković

- I think that it is important for Serbia for EU to survive, because that is strategic foreign policy priority of the operation of Belgrade, and it was important for people which will advocate for the survival of the Union to win, or for the existing European standards and values - Dragan Djukanovic said to Telegraf.rs, vice president of the Center for Foreign Policy.

Djukanovic does not expect any significant change in French politics, given that Macron has a greater chance of selection.

Foto: Medija centar Beograd

- Every adventure with EU falling apart won't go without repercussions for Western Balkans, maybe even pretty complex and problematic. So i think that EU stability is better for Serbia, instead of it falling apart. 

France is one of the the founding countries of Eu and it is a bit sad from the point of Union history that it is now questioned, from the country that the idea originally came from, said Mihailo Crnobrnja for our portal, president of European movement in Serbia.

- Le Pen insists not so much on anti-Europeanism, much more to the sovereignty, the manner in which de Gaulle defended French sovereignty. It may be popular, it may take a number of votes, but I hope that reason will prevail, and that is the second option, pro-European, will win and that France will remain in the EU - says Crnobrnja. 

Printskin: Youtube/FakultetFEFAofficial

When we asked what are the consequences that would have on Serbia, president of the European Movement said that it will only postpone our joining the Union.

- EU in this moment has enough severe internal problems so the question on new countries joining is postponed even further - explains Crnobrnja.

Crnobrnja mentions that Serbia should expect weaker EU, which won't have any reason to speed up euro integrations, quite the opposite, to slow it down.

- European union already exists in two gears. Not all members are in the Eurozone, or Schengen, Thus, from Maastricht to here, we have a two-speed EU. Now EU will try to gather countries, such as Serbia aspiring to membership, together in "one corridor", where they should cooperate with each other and the attention is transferred there, and not on speed opening and closing of chapters - notes Crnobrnja.

Foto: AP/Tanjug

Now, the victory of Macron brings a lot of unknowns, said Dusan Gujancic from the Institute for political studies. Namely, he said for Telegraf.rs portal that Macros did not say much about new members joining EU. 

- He will look towards close partnership with Germany to reform EU, unlike Le Pen who had significantly more radical opinion, and she would probably sign a referendum about France staying in the Union.

Printskrin: Telegraf

We are first interested in our interest, said Gujancic and and mentions that Le Pen stated about Kosovo very positively, that it is a part of our country, and great injustice was done to us in 1999. While Macron said nothing about that issue, and we should say he would continue similar policy as former French presidents.

- As for Serbia, our membership is not sure for unknowns about EU future, whoever is the next president of France, but it would be definitely be better for it to be Marine Le Pen, because of her opinion on Kosovo - considers Gujanicic.

(Telegraf.co.uk)