This Month
French government to resign but stay on in caretaker role, sources say
The caretaker government will run current affairs in France, including the start of the Olympics, but cannot pass laws.
- Elizabeth Pineau
France’s left-wing parties struggle to unite, Socialists’ leader says
The New Popular Front, an alliance ranging from socialists and Greens to the communist party, won the parliamentary election but fell well short of a majority.
- Sudip Kar-Gupta
Iran’s new president vows balance with all countries but warns US
Masoud Pezeshkian urged Arab countries to use “all diplomatic leverages” to push for a lasting ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.
- Amir Vahdat
Macron coalition talks shaky as left ‘behaves like children’
While French leftists demand the premiership, the president faces fissures in his own camp.
- Leila Abboud, Adrienne Klasa, Sarah White and Ian Johnston
- Opinion
- The AFR View
France says adieu to the centre
Australia too faces a drift to minority government, polarisation and identity politics at the next election, which France showed how easily can go off course.
- The AFR View
Corporate France bids adieu to Macron’s pro-business agenda
Many business leaders are relieved to see extremes neutralised, but political gridlock and the rise of the left has sparked concern.
- Anne-Sylvaine Chassany, Adrienne Klasa, Leila Abboud and Sarah White
- Opinion
- Opinion
Confused despair grips Democratic voters
Joe Biden seems to be revelling in his determination to once again prove his doubters wrong. The Trump campaign is confident it ensures their victory on November 5.
- Jennifer Hewett
- Opinion
- UK
Europe now leaderless as global threats rise
President Emmanuel Macron’s authority in Europe has shrunk after chaotic national elections, while the UK’s influence has been hobbled by Brexit.
- Gideon Rachman
Markets on tenterhooks as French politicians jostle for power
France’s left-wing parties are scrambling for a way to break the political impasse created by President Emmanuel Macron’s snap parliamentary election.
- Hans van Leeuwen
- Updated
- World politics
France faces political gridlock after shock election result
France faces fresh political uncertainty and weeks of wrangling, with an intractable hung parliament carved up between three blocs, after a shock election result.
- Updated
- Hans van Leeuwen
Super fund savings will ride out ‘year of elections’: CIOs
But investment chiefs warn that the rise of populism or an increase in US-China tensions could flow through to short-term returns.
- Hannah Wootton
- Analysis
- Analysis
What are the options to govern France?
Complicated talks lie ahead after snap elections called by Emmanuel Macron resulted in hung parliament.
- Anne-Sylvaine Chassany, Leila Abboud, Adrienne Klasa and Ian Johnston
- Opinion
- Opinion
Immigration is the reason swing states are turning back to Trump
Joe Biden is still betting big he can move key swing states his way, but Arizona was shifting back to Trump well before that debate. Jennifer Hewett reports from the south-west.
- Jennifer Hewett
- Opinion
- Opinion
France heads back to its postwar era of ungovernability
France seems to be turning the clock back to the 4th Republic, the volatile postwar period when the presidency was weaker and a raucous parliament was supreme.
- Ben Hall
- Analysis
- France
How it all went wrong for Le Pen’s National Rally
The second round of the election was framed as a referendum for or against the hard right party, and the French clearly came out against.
- Henry Samuel and Rebecca Rosman
French left alliance set for shock victory over Le Pen and Macron
The coalition’s surge is a surprise blow to far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who had hoped to form the next government, and incumbent president Emmanuel Macron.
- Ania Nussbaum
France braces for far-right chaos as voting under way
France was voting on Sunday in pivotal runoff elections that could hand a historic victory to Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally and its inward-looking, anti-immigrant vision – or produce a hung parliament and years of political deadlock.
- Barbara Surk and Helena Alves
Iran’s new president brings moderation hope to millions
Masoud Pezeshkian defeated his headline rival in the second round of Iran’s elections to become president, a victory likely welcomed by world powers.
- Parisa Hafezi
Billionaire ‘French Murdoch’ behind Le Pen’s rise
Vincent Bollare’s TV channel and related media outlets have normalised and amplified the far-right leader’s message ahead of this weekend’s French elections.
- Benoit Berthelot and Tara Patel
Fixing broken Britain needs ‘tough decisions’, Starmer warns
The new prime minister held a cabinet meeting on Saturday to kickstart his bid to resuscitate the country’s ailing public services and tight finances.
- Hans van Leeuwen
