The Ultimate Démarche: France Wants to Oust English From the EU

Prompted by Brexit, French President Emmanuel Macron wants to restore his language, the way it was before Britain joined

BRUSSELS—As if the European Union didn’t have enough to worry about, now it’s at odds over what should be its dominant language.

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, wants to make French grand again and replace English as the default language in EU institutions, the way it was before Britain joined the bloc in 1973. With the U.K. negotiating to leave the EU next spring, he is eager to restore the linguistic ancien regime.

“English...