In September 2025, France’s government collapsed yet again, a symptom of the political fragmentation that has hindered the country’s ability to make meaningful progress on addressing economic concerns. Meanwhile, in the arena of foreign policy, French President Emmanuel Macron has sought to cultivate an image of strength abroad, leading Europe’s response to U.S. tariffs and Russian aggression in Ukraine. For Macron, mounting domestic instability presents an existential challenge to his legitimacy as Europe’s chief statesman.

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