Political turmoil in France
France’s Political Turmoil
Political unrest in France
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French President Emmanuel Macron announced those possible options less than three weeks after the fall of the previous government. He had already chosen François Bayrou as prime minister.
By Richard Fausset and Aurelien Breeden
Richard Fausset reported from Rennes, France; and Aurélien Breeden of Marseille, France.
French President Emmanuel Macron named a new cabinet on Monday, less than three weeks after the previous government collapsed over a bitter budget stalemate.
It’s unclear how long the government might hold out or whether it would be to mitigate broader considerations about political instability in Europe at a time when the region faces significant economic and security challenges.
The center-right orientation of the new French government more or less mirrors that of the previous one, which lasted less than three months after being attacked by the left and the far right in Parliament. This shows that Macron and his new Prime Minister, François Bayrou, remain committed to the concept that France can be governed from the center, even in an era of intense political polarization. But opting for another right-wing government may make it difficult for left-wing lawmakers to engage in a much-needed deal to fund the government next year.
At the very least, the announcement of new ministers provides France with a functional government at a time when Germany, a cornerstone of the European Union, remains adrift. Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s German government collapsed this month and new elections are expected to be held at the end of February.
The political unrest in Europe’s two largest countries comes at a particularly dangerous time for the continent. The election of Donald J. Trump as president of the United States for the second time has raised doubts about whether the United States will continue with Ukraine in the war against Russia and whether Trump could simply overthrow NATO.
Considerations are also emerging about the anemic economic expansion in Europe relative to that of the United States and the prospect of Trump making good on his threats to impose price lists that could cause an industrial war.
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