Opinion: France’s Political Crisis and Its Ripple Effects Across Europe
By José Carlos Palma*
The ousting of French Prime Minister Michel Barnier by an unprecedented alliance of the left and far right represents more than just a domestic political crisis; it signals a seismic shift with profound implications for the European Union’s stability and cohesion. As Europe grapples with multifaceted challenges—a political stalemate in Germany, the war in Ukraine, and the impending presidency of Donald Trump in the United States—France’s internal turmoil could exacerbate the fractures in an already fragile union.
France’s Role in European Leadership
France, alongside Germany, has traditionally been a cornerstone of the European Union. President Emmanuel Macron’s vision of a “sovereign Europe” has sought to counterbalance external pressures from Russia, China, and...
