7 h. ago Macron on ‘last chance’ as he promises new French prime minister within 48 hours

The French president is seeking his sixth prime minister in under two years after the resignation of Sebastien Lecornu

Politics

10 h. ago Macron on ‘last chance’ as he seeks new French prime minister within 48 hours

Macron is seeking his sixth prime minister in under two years after the resignation of Sebastien Lecornu

Politics

10 h. ago New French PM to be named by Friday as Macron resists pressure to call snap elections

Government spokesperson says it may be ‘last chance’ for politicians to regain credibility and cut risk of far right taking powerEmmanuel Macron will name a new prime minister by Friday evening, his office has said, hinting at the French president’s hopes that a sixth prime minister in less than two years will manage to steer a budget through the country’s deeply fragmented parliament.“This might be the last chance,” government spokesperson Aurore Bergé told RTL radio on Thursday. “I believe this is the last chance for politicians to regain credibility ... all of this is only strengthening the chances and capabilities of the far right to take power.” Continue reading...

Politics

60 h. ago Explosions as van erupts in flames near French Prime Minister’s office in Paris

Outgoing PM Sebastien Lecornu had been due to hold meetings following his resignation

Politics

61 h. ago Macron should announce early election, says former PM as France’s political crisis deepens

Édouard Philippe, a contender to succeed Macron, says situation is ‘distressing’ amid last-ditch efforts to get cross-party support for cabinetEurope live – latest updatesÉdouard Philippe, a former French prime minister and one-time ally of Emmanuel Macron, has said he favours early presidential elections given the gravity of the political crisis rocking the country.The remarks by Philippe, a leading centre-right contender to succeed Macron, came as the outgoing prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, began a last-ditch effort to rally cross-party support for a cabinet to pull France out of its deepening political deadlock. Continue reading...

Politics

62 h. ago Knives come out for Macron as France spirals into crisis: One of Emmanuel's former prime ministers calls for early presidential election after latest PM lasts just 27 days

Former French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said on Tuesday that he was in favour of an early presidential election.

Politics

3 d. ago French stocks and bonds slump as ANOTHER Prime Minister resigns

French stocks and bonds were sold off on Monday morning after Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu unexpectedly resigned after just less than a month in charge.

Politics

3 d. ago French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu resigns after less than a month in office

Mr Lecornu's choice of ministers had been criticised across the political spectrum

Politics

3 d. ago French prime minister resigns less than a month after appointment

Macron ally quits after rightwing allies indicated they would withdraw from his government

Politics

3 w. ago France should have recognised Palestinian statehood years ago. The cynic in me asks: why now? | Rokhaya Diallo

Weakened domestically, Emmanuel Macron wants an international legacy. Yet still, he does nothing to sanction IsraelWhen Emmanuel Macron announced that France intended to recognise Palestinian statehood, he drew a furious rebuke from Israel – and caused a diplomatic storm with the US. Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, wrote a letter accusing the French government of failing to “confront the alarming rise of antisemitism” in France, adding the harsh and unequivocal assessment: “Your call for a Palestinian state pours fuel on this antisemitic fire.”In the same letter, he praised Donald Trump’s action to “protect the civil rights of American Jews”.Rokhaya Diallo is a Guardian Europe columnist Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago French debt downgrade piles pressure on Macron’s new prime minister

Fitch’s change to A+ reflects concerns political instability will affect France’s ability to reduce its deficit

Politics

4 w. ago New French PM Sébastien Lecornu promises ‘profound break’ with past politics

Lecornu, 39, faces difficult task of gaining enough support from divided parliament to pass a budgetThe new French prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, has promised a “profound break” with past politics as he took over from the unpopular centrist François Bayrou, who was ousted this week over a proposed budget squeeze.Lecornu, 39, who said “humility” was the key approach, now faces the difficult task of gaining enough support from France’s divided parliament to pass a budget if he is to avoid being swiftly ousted in the same way as Bayrou, and before him, the rightwing Michel Barnier, who only lasted three months. Continue reading...

Politics

last month The Guardian view on political chaos in France: time for Emmanuel Macron to face reality and compromise with the left | Editorial

The French president has seen four prime ministers come and go in three years. The rancorous stasis of his second term is a gift to Marine Le PenIn the lead-up to the vote that ejected him from office this week after a mere nine months, the centre-right French prime minister, François Bayrou, appeared stoically reconciled to his fate. “There are worse disasters in life than the fall of a government,” Mr Bayrou observed on national radio, implicitly acknowledging his failure to win backing for a swingeing austerity strategy. On Monday, MPs duly used a debate called by the prime minister himself to oust him.And so another one bites the dust. The entrance to Matignon, France’s baroque prime ministerial residence, has become a revolving door during Emmanuel Macron’s benighted second term. Lacking a majority in a divided and deadlocked parliament, the president has gone through four premiers in a little over three years. Following the departure of the latest, he announced ...

Politics

last month France braces for ‘block everything’ protests after PM Bayrou resigns

Blockades, disruption and strikes planned for Wednesday with about 80,000 police and gendarmes to be deployedThe French prime minister, François Bayrou, has resigned after losing a confidence vote as authorities prepare for a day of disruption and protests ranging from road and school blockades to transport strikes.About 80,000 police and gendarmes will be deployed across France on Wednesday to monitor a day of anti-government demonstrations organised under the slogan “block everything”. Continue reading...

Events

last month France to get third PM in a year as Bayrou resigns after confidence vote

Prime minister hands in resignation after thousands of protesters gather to celebrate ousting and plan day of actionThe French prime minister, François Bayrou, has handed in his resignation after losing a confidence vote that has plunged France into government collapse and political crisis.Emmanuel Macron has said he will appoint a new prime minister in the coming days, who would then have to form a new government. This will be the third French prime minister in a year, whose first task will be the major challenge of agreeing a budget among a divided parliament. Continue reading...

Politics

last month France to get third PM in a year as Bayrou to resign after confidence vote

Prime minister to hand in resignation after thousands of protesters gather to celebrate ousting and plan day of actionBayrou to resign – latest updatesThe French prime minister, François Bayrou, will hand in his resignation on Tuesday after losing a confidence vote that has plunged France into government collapse and political crisis.Emmanuel Macron has said he will appoint a new prime minister in the coming days, who would then have to form a new government. This will be the third French prime minister in a year, whose first task will be the major challenge of agreeing a budget among a divided parliament. Continue reading...

Politics

last month Anglo American agrees mining mega merger; Londoners face commuting struggles as tube strike enters second day – business live

Deal will create $53bn mining giant but raises fears of job cuts as headquarters moves to VancouverIn the markets, the FTSE 100 index has edged 0.2% higher while Germany’s Dax gained 0.15% and Italy’s FTSE MiB rose by 0.5%.France’s CAC climbed by 0.7%, despite political turmoil in the country. French president Emmanuel Macron is seeking his fifth prime minister in less than two years, after centre-right PM François Bayrou was ousted in a confidence vote on Monday, as expected. This toppled his minority government.A quiet Monday masks a big week ahead for US markets, with the Nasdaq hitting an all-time high as tech and retail led a modest rebound. The S&P 500 added 0.5%, while the Russell 2000 lagged after its recent run. Treasury yields continued their descent, with the 10-year near 4%, its lowest in five months, and the 2-year hovering around 3.5%, levels last seen in 2022.Markets are fully priced for a 25bps cut [from the Fed] this month, and expect more to come. With PPI, CPI...

Events