A Reform Beyond Macron’s Grip: The Revolving Door of Politics

If France’s president can overpower Donald Trump with a handshake, why can’t he keep bureaucrats from running for office?

Emmanuel Macron.
Photographer: Christophe Morin/Bloomberg

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By Gregory Viscusi

June 8, 2017 at 4:00 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

French President Emmanuel Macron has promised to change how politics is done in France, starting with the parliament to be elected beginning Sunday. Half of the 500-plus candidates for his young party are women. Half have never held office. They all had to apply online.

But he isn’t taking the biggest step: requiring that anyone running for parliament resign from his or her government job.