Macron Gifted a Chance at Making France More Le Pen-Proof

President Emmanuel Macron has been handed a golden chance to insulate one of France’s most important institutions from the far right.

With Marine Le Pen’s National Rally strongly positioned for next year’s election, the early resignation of the Bank of France chief offers the current head of state — rather than whoever wins the vote to replace him — the opportunity to name a successor. The job is a crucial one, involving attendance at European Central Bank meetings in Frankfurt, and acting as an economic watchdog back home.