Also in this newsletter: Bulgaria tries yet again to form a stable government
The electoral mauling is so severe that his ability to complete his term is now in question
Stocks and euro rise as some second-round candidates could be pulled to try to boost vote against Rassemblement National
Far-right Rassemblement National has broadened its appeal but its path to a majority remains uncertain
Also in this newsletter: the Socialists’ message to Ursula von der Leyen
President Emmanuel Macron’s centrists fall to third place behind leftwing alliance
Millions will have to opt between supporting the far right or a bloc dominated by the far left in parliamentary elections
Almost 60% of votes already cast by late afternoon, the highest turnout in nearly four decades
Some businesses court Le Pen’s party despite lingering concerns about its reputation and commitment to work with executive in a shared government
Emmanuel Macron wanted to save France from the far right. It has never been closer to power
Having called new legislative elections, the French leader now faces the revenge of the extremes
An ambitious supply-side agenda has defined economic perceptions of his presidency. So have shocks
Edouard Philippe and other presidential hopefuls prepare for new political era
Italy and France vie for the same role in new European Commission
Macron’s Ensemble heads into last week of campaigning before first-round vote trailing far-right and leftwing rivals
L’extrême droite se rapproche du pouvoir et la gauche radicale évoque l’esprit de 1936, aux dépens du bloc centriste
The far right scents an opportunity, the left evokes the spirit of 1936 and liberal democracy is squeezed in the middle
In some ways it already has, argues political scientist Olivier Roy
By pulling its 7 MEPs from Renew, Ano party consolidates Giorgia Meloni’s ultraconservatives as third-largest group
Surveys suggest French centrists are gaining ground, but still behind far-right party and leftwing bloc
French PM Gabriel Attal is face of centrist campaign in upcoming snap elections triggered by president
Italy’s PM aims to disrupt plans by other parties in the bloc’s parliament to decide senior roles
The chief risk is not reckless far-right economic policies but a president and prime minister so at odds that chaos follows
Both political forces have lavish spending plans that are spooking investors
There are doubts even in the French president’s own camp about the wisdom of calling snap elections
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