But the good news ends there: France, alongside the EU’s other big power, Germany, has its own internal struggles. The European Union is currently in political turmoil with no party winning a majority in Parliament, a paralysis that could last for months and damage the EU.
“Europe will be in real trouble if everything soon comes to a standstill in both Paris and Berlin because of international political disagreements,” said the EU diplomat, who, like others quoted in the article, spoke on condition of anonymity.
Macron has been a major presence on the European front, seeking to reshape the EU’s trade policy, push for a more ambitious industrial defence and competitiveness policy and strengthen strategic autonomy in preparation for the possible reelection of President Donald Trump.
With the French president currently weakened and distracted by domestic problems, whatever government ultimately emerges from a divided French parliament is unlikely to be stable for long.
As French politicians make their decisions, they will likely also be mindful of the 2027 presidential election, which could see mainstream and left-wing parties working together to oust the far-right again, or even see a far-right party become president.
“The new government is likely to focus more on domestic issues than foreign policy, but French politics will remain divided and difficult to manage and France’s influence on the European and global stages will be weakened,” said Celia Bellin of the Paris office of the European Council on Foreign Relations think tank.
