The announcement of the members of the reshuffled government on 6 July did not produce any surprises on the economic front. Finance and Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire has retained his post, and the changes to some of the key portfolios such as home affairs, labor, and the environment suggest a substantial degree of continuity in the policies of President Emmanuel Macron’s administration.… Read the rest
As expected, President Emmanuel Macron has reshuffled his government following the 28 June local elections. The president’s decision to replace the popular Edouard Philippe with the little known center-right politician Jean Castex as prime minister suggests that Macron wants to be perceived as entirely in control of government policy in the months leading up to the 2022 presidential election.… Read the rest
President Emmanuel Macron is expected to reshuffle his government after the second round of the municipal elections taking place this Sunday, 28 June. It is unclear whether he will retain Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, whose popularity has received a boost due to his management of the Covid-19 pandemic.… Read the rest
The reported creation of a new group of MPs in the National Assembly might lead President Emmanuel Macron to lose his parliamentary majority. In such a scenario, however, the government would still be able to get legislation passed with the support of the Democratic Movement (MoDem) party.… Read the rest
This piece provides an updated overview of the lockdown exit strategies currently being implemented by selected European governments, and the surrounding politics. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you want to discuss any of the countries mentioned in more detail.… Read the rest
The spread of the COVID-19 virus is now dominating lives to the extent that at least two national leaders, President Macron of France and Prime Minister Johnson of the UK, and latterly US President Trump have likened the prevailing environment to that of a war.… Read the rest
Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced on 29 February that he would make use of Article 49.3 of the French constitution to ram pension reform through parliament. While Philippe’s decision might create additional cracks inside the ruling Republic on the Move (LREM) party of President Emmanuel Macron, it is unlikely that it will make much difference for the overall political outlook.… Read the rest
The intensification of the opposition’s filibustering efforts has led the government to consider using article 49.3 of the constitution to force passage of its pension reform. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe is unlikely to resort to the “nuclear option” immediately, however, as he needs time to maintain the cohesion of the ruling majority and blame the opposition for the parliamentary stalemate.… Read the rest
Amid a deteriorating security situation across the Sahel zone, the 13 January summit in Pau (France) was supposed to reinject momentum into the French-led anti-terror coalition of regional and international allies.… Read the rest
