Can anyone govern France or will the political instability continue? episode artwork

EPISODE · Oct 14, 2025 · 26 MIN

Can anyone govern France or will the political instability continue?

from The Global Agora · host Andrej Matisak

When President Emmanuel Macron dissolved parliament in June 2024, he gambled that new elections might restore his control or expose the far right as unfit to govern. Instead, France has been stuck in a political stalemate – no clear majority, a restless opposition, and a public growing weary of the political chaos. To help us make sense of it all, I’m joined by Georgina Wright, Special Adviser to the President and Senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund. We discuss why being Prime Minister might be the hardest job in France today, what this crisis means for Macron’s presidency and his legacy, whether Marine Le Pen's presidency is more or less inevitable, and how the instability in Paris could reshape Europe’s political landscape – from investor confidence to support for Ukraine. So, can anyone govern France, or will the political instability continue? Listen to our conversation. And if you enjoy what I do, please support me on Ko-fi! Thank you. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/amatisak

When President Emmanuel Macron dissolved parliament in June 2024, he gambled that new elections might restore his control or expose the far right as unfit to govern. Instead, France has been stuck in a political stalemate – no clear majority, a restless opposition, and a public growing weary of the political chaos. To help us make sense of it all, I’m joined by Georgina Wright, Special Adviser to the President and Senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund. We discuss why being Prime Minister might be the hardest job in France today, what this crisis means for Macron’s presidency and his legacy, whether Marine Le Pen's presidency is more or less inevitable, and how the instability in Paris could reshape Europe’s political landscape – from investor confidence to support for Ukraine. So, can anyone govern France, or will the political instability continue? Listen to our conversation. And if you enjoy what I do, please support me on Ko-fi! Thank you. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/amatisak

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Can anyone govern France or will the political instability continue?

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This episode was published on October 14, 2025.

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When President Emmanuel Macron dissolved parliament in June 2024, he gambled that new elections might restore his control or expose the far right as unfit to govern. Instead, France has been stuck in a political stalemate – no clear majority, a...

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