MACRON POSITIONS HIMSELF AS THE STATESMAN OF EUROPE

FOR A LEADER GIVEN TO DRAMATIC FLOURISHES, French President Emmanuel Macron announced his run for re-election with uncharacteristic humility. In a simple letter published in French newspapers in early March, he addressed his citizens: “I am seeking your trust again.”

So began an odd campaign—if you can call it that. Macron’s 11 rivals in declared of the “phantom campaign.”