The French Dispatch

Balaclavas, Broken Alliances & Bond Ratings From a far-right attack on an LFI rally in Lille to the collapsing centrist coalition between Renaissance and Les Républicains in Montluçon - and what Fitch's A+ rating means for France.

This week in the French Dispatch 🇫🇷

🇮🇷Europe on the Brink
📣Far-right attacks LFI event seeking “justice for Quentin”
🙅‍♂️Renaissance pulls support for Les Républicains over far-right alliance
📈Fitch maintains French A+ debt rating

www.frenchdispatch.eu/p/balaclavas...

Trump's ambassador blocked by Paris, and Mélenchon falls into a political hole after far-left violence Paris briefly froze access for Trump’s envoy after a provocative embassy intervention, as new polling shows Mélenchon’s LFI haemorrhaging legitimacy amid violence backlash

This week in the French Dispatch 🇫🇷

🇺🇸Trumps Diplomat Kushner blocked from government meetings in Paris
⬇️La France Insoumise is in deep trouble following far-left violence

www.frenchdispatch.eu/p/france-blo...

Quentin Deranque Case in Lyon: Seven Arrested, LFI Under Pressure, Macron and Merz Respond to Trump Tariffs A homicide investigation in Lyon, mounting political pressure on La France Insoumise, and a growing EU pushback after Donald Trump’s tariff threats.

This week in the French Dispatch 🇫🇷

🚓Seven arrested for Quentin Deranque murder
💬La France Insoumise losing ground in the Quentin D. case
🇪🇺Macron and Merz call for joint response to Trump tariffs

www.frenchdispatch.eu/p/quentin-de...

Niger “prepares for war” with France as political violence escalates in Lyon From Niamey’s anti-French rhetoric and Russian disinformation to the killing of a far-right activist in Lyon and Valérie Pécresse’s bid to reshape the French right.

This week in the French Dispatch 🇫🇷

🇳🇪Niger prepares for war with France
⚖️ Far-right activist killed by far-left
🤝Pécresse calls for primary for right and centre

www.frenchdispatch.eu/p/niger-fran...

Russian Disinformation Targets Macron as French Prosecutors Move Against Elon Musk’s X From the Storm-1516 propaganda operation to raids on Musk’s Paris offices, France confronts disinformation, platform abuse, and democratic destabilisation

This week in the French Dispatch 🇫🇷

🇷🇺Operation Storm-1516 targets Emmanuel Macron
🚓Musk’s Paris offices raided before Paris Prosecutor summons

www.frenchdispatch.eu/p/russian-di...

Macron Takes On Trump, Lecornu Survives Censure, France Bans Far-Right British Activists Sébastien Lecornu survives two more censure motions, President Macron warns Donald Trump of “cascading consequences” for the west over Greenland, and France bans ten far-right British influencers

This week in the French Dispatch 🇫🇷

⚔️Lecornu survives two more censure motions
🪖Macron warns Trump of “cascading consequences” for the West
🚫France bans ten far-right British influencers

www.frenchdispatch.eu/p/france-pol...

🗳️New Year, New Elections Rachida Dati feels pressure from far-right Knafo in Paris, Lécornu eyes March legislative elections following Mercosur censures, and Le Monde poll shows Marine Le Pen falling behind Jordan Bardella

This week in the French Dispatch

🗜Rachida Dati pressured by far-right Knafo in Paris
🗳️Lécornu eyes March legislative elections following Mercosur censures
⬇️Le Monde poll shows Le Pen falling behind Bardella

www.frenchdispatch.eu/p/new-year-e...

European Council - The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly ANALYSIS - a messy European Council, with Ukraine funding, common EU debt, strengthened security, Mercosur drama, and Russian threats affecting EU decision-making, making this one to remember.

ANALYSIS - a messy European Council, with Ukraine funding, common EU debt, strengthened security, Mercosur drama, and Russian threats affecting EU decision-making, making this one to remember.

www.frenchdispatch.eu/p/european-c...

LIVE SOON: Did the EU sell out Ukraine? EUCO recap Starting Dec 19 at 9:00 AM EST

"Did the EU sell out Ukraine? EUCO recap"

open.substack.com/live-stream/...

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk speaking ahead of #EUCO Summit

"Now we have a simple choice: either money today, or blood tomorrow. I’m not talking about Ukraine only, I’m talking about Europe. This is our decision to make. And only ours.

All European leaders must finally rise to the challenge"

Right-Wing Bulwark Against the Far-Right Time for a Christmas break as Valérie Pecresse and Xavier Bertrand break ranks and attack potential alliance with the far-right

This week in The French Dispatch 🇫🇷

🎄It’s time for a Christmas Break
🙅‍♀️Pecresse and Bertrand move against far-right alliance

www.frenchdispatch.eu/p/right-wing...

🇫🇷Prisons and primaries Les Républicains are arguing over a full right-wing primary, the polls behind this, and Gérald Darmanin promising an autonomous Saint-Martin tribunal and prison

This week in The French Dispatch 🇫🇷

➡️Les Républicains argue over a full right-wing primary
🧑‍⚖️Darmanin promises autonomous Saint-Martin tribunal and prison

www.frenchdispatch.eu/p/prisons-an...

Strengthening the French nation The Assemblée Nationale votes to nationalise ArcelorMittal, S&P Global maintains French A+ rating, and Emmanuel Macron announces a voluntary national service

This week in The French Dispatch 🇫🇷

🏭Assemblée votes to nationalise ArcelorMittal
💶S&P maintains French A+ rating
🪖Macron announces voluntary national service

www.frenchdispatch.eu/p/france-arc...

French budget crisis continues as General Mandon warns mayors to prepare for war Assemblée rejects income segment of 2026 budget, General Mandon warns mayors to prepare for war, Sarkozy book to cover agonising 20 days in Prison, and Boualem Sansal is now free

This week in The French Dispatch 🇫🇷

🏛️Assemblée rejects income segment of 2026 budget
🪖General warns mayors to prepare for war, extremes complain
📖Sarkozy to release book on agonising 20 days in Prison
🕊️Boualem Sansal is now free

www.frenchdispatch.eu/p/french-bud...

"If our country falters because it is not ready to accept losing its children" - General Mandon's full speech The full text of General Fabien Mandon's speech at the Congress of Mayors of France, calling on mayors to help prepare the citizenry for a potential war against foreign enemies.

The full text of General Fabien Mandon's speech at the Congress of Mayors of France, calling on mayors to help prepare the citizenry for a potential war against foreign enemies.

www.frenchdispatch.eu/p/if-our-cou...

Sarkozy Escapes Prison, Le Pen Forced Out, and Pétainist Revisionism From Nicolas Sarkozy’s unexpected release pending appeal, to Marine Le Pen’s enforced resignation and a Pétainist tribute in Verdun, France faces a pivotal test of judicial independence and truth.

This week in The French Dispatch 🇫🇷

👮Sarkozy out of prison
❌Le Pen’s appeal rejected by Council of State
💬Prefect denounces revisionist tribute to Pétain in Verdun

www.frenchdispatch.eu/p/sarkozy-pr...

Quick reaction to Zack Polanski’s Putin naïveté Polanski believes that he can potentially convince Russian President Vladimir Putin to give up his nuclear weapons. Here is why that is not only dangerously foolish, but disqualifying.

Zack Polanski believes that he can potentially convince Russian President Vladimir Putin to give up his nuclear weapons. Here is why that is not only dangerously foolish, but disqualifying.

www.frenchdispatch.eu/p/quick-reac...

⏱️Debating the future of France Senators start pushing toward a Federal French Republic, while the Assemblèe moves forward towards a budget by voting through the revenue segment of the PLFSS

This week in The French Dispatch 🇫🇷

🏛️French Federal Republic re-enters discussions
🗳️Assemblèe adopts revenue segment of budget

www.frenchdispatch.eu/p/debating-t...

Lecornu on the brink Bardella's €240,000 in campaign expenses were rejected as Faure gave Lecornu an ultimatum before bringing down his government.

This week in The French Dispatch 🇫🇷

🧑‍⚖️Bardella’s rejected campaign expenditure
🌹Parti Socialiste lose patience, threaten Lecornu

www.frenchdispatch.eu/p/lecornu-fa...

Lecornu 2 is go Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu survives two censure motions, 1,700 amendments are submitted for the 2026 budget, and someone robbed the Louvre this morning.

This week in The French Dispatch 🇫🇷

🔫Lecornu survives two censure motions
📝1,700 amendments for the budget
🚓Someone robbed the Louvre
💬Caption Contest

www.frenchdispatch.eu/p/sebastien-...

The far-left La France Insoumise Motion of Censure against the Lecornu II Government has failed.

With 271 votes in favour, the vote failed by only 18 votes.

This means PM Sébastien Lecornu is now entirely dependent on support from the Parti Socialiste.

♻️Lecornu, rebelote The French political crisis continues as Sébastien Lecornu quits and is renominated, Emmanuel Macron is betrayed by his ally Edouard Philippe's presidential ambitions, and budget deadlines approach

This week in The French Dispatch 🇫🇷

⏱️The French Political Crisis continues
2️⃣Lecornu 2
💶Budget timeline gets tighter

www.frenchdispatch.eu/p/lecornu-pr...

Fabien Roussel (PCF) has announced that President Emmanuel Macron will make a public declaration this evening on the result of the day's discussions.

"There is no guarantee of non-censorship on our part" Olivier Faure (PS) warned after meeting Emmanuel Macron today.

"Overall, there has been no clear response from the President of the Republic. The simple postponement of the pension reform has nothing to do with our request"

According to reports coming out of the Elysée meetings today, there will be no dissolution and we will see a new Prime Minister within "the next few hours".

However, this prime minister, according to Marine Tondelier, will not be from the left.

🚨French Politician Confidence Poll - October 2025

For each of the following personalities, please indicate whether you have a positive or a negative image of them

🚨Emmanuel Macron Confidence Poll - October 2025

Do you trust or not trust the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, to effectively tackle the main issues facing the country?

Completely trust - 4%
Somewhat trust - 10%
Not really - 23%
Not at all - 59%
No opinion - 4%

Lecornu Resigns as France Succumbs to Political Chaos Lecornu is gone, but why did he resign? Will there be a new PM or new elections? Will Macron resign? And what is the destitution procedure that the opposition is trying to force against Macron?

Lecornu is gone, but why did he resign? Will there be a new PM or new elections? Will Macron resign? And what is the destitution procedure that the opposition is trying to force against Macron?

www.frenchdispatch.eu/p/lecornu-re...

🚨POLL

🇫🇷Hypothetical voting intentions for the 1st round of French legislative elections

⏰The Lecornu Government is Collapsing Before it Forms A new format, Prime Minister Lecornu works towards a political statement on Tuesday while forming his government, and has already been threatened with motions of censure by the left and far-right.

This week in The French Dispatch 🇫🇷

🆕New weekly format
🤝Lecornu pushes towards likely doomed government formation
🗳️Faure “We are heading straight for censorship”
👇Marine Le Pen threatens to bring down the government

www.frenchdispatch.eu/p/lecornu-go...