Waiting for Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Greece on the eve of the prime minister's customary speech at the opening of the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) is a move tied to our internal politics because the opposition will criticize the agreement made by the SYRIZA-Independent Greeks (ANEL) coalition with the institutions, as our high-level visitor will praise the country's prospects. This is ephemeral of course, because everything is judged by its effect on everyday life and not staged demonstrations of friendship and state visits. Nonetheless, they are essential, for historical reasons and due to ongoing developments in the European Union.

France's role in the post-junta years has been decisive on many levels. Greece joined the European Economic Community in large part thanks to the support of then French president Valery Giscard d'Estaing, who became great...