Macron's Work Has Barely Begun

Emmanuel Macron is nothing if not persuasive. He’s built a political movement from scratch and won enough votes from France’s established parties to take the keys to the Elysee Palace. He’ll need those skills and more to carry out an essential reform that has eluded all his predecessors -- freeing up France’s labor market.

Just last year, France debated the latest of many attempts to make its labor laws less rigid. After furious protests, the plan was diluted down to not much -- and even then was implemented only by using a special constitutional provision that let the government bypass Parliament. This struggle pretty much sealed the fate of Macron’s predecessor, Francois Hollande. Macron cannot be under any illusions about the challenge he faces.