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As you guys know, France has been going through a turbulent time, with a level of political instability that we haven’t seen since before World War Two, when the political instability led to us not being able to react to Nazi Germany and eventually being occupied.
So, with the second Lecornu government now trying to push towards a budget of some kind,
() and I (the editor of your favourite newsletter, ) sat down to do a quick Q&A:We cover:
The nitty-gritty of the ongoing French political crisis
What chances Sébastien Lecornu and his government have of succeeding
How long Lecornu 2 will survive
The French budget procedure
What the chances of a French budget for 2026 are, and
How this will effect Europe.
For the timeline of events leading up to today’s Substack live, check out the following explainers and videos in chronological order:
⏰The Lecornu Government is Collapsing Before it Forms
A new format, Prime Minister Lecornu works towards a political statement on Tuesday while forming his government, and has already been threatened with motions of censure by the left and far-right.
Lecornu Resigns as France Succumbs to Political Chaos
Lecornu is gone, but why did he resign? Will there be a new PM or new elections? Will Macron resign? And what is the destitution procedure that the opposition is trying to force against Macron?
France Update - Macron vs Philippe, Lecornu's failing negotiations, Extremist strategies, and Attal’s statement
Took a quick break from my cold to give a (not-so-quick) update on the current French political situation, with a particular focus on:
- Lecornu’s final negotiations
- Upcoming legislative elections
- The reason why Edouard Philippe wants Macron to resign
- The strategies being deployed by French extremists
- The current polling situation
♻️Lecornu, rebelote
The French political crisis continues as Sébastien Lecornu quits and is renominated, Emmanuel Macron is betrayed by his ally Edouard Philippe's presidential ambitions, and budget deadlines approach
As always, if you have any questions, drop them below, and otherwise, we hope you enjoyed the chat!
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