Emmanuel Macron was supposed to do two things. First, turn France into a dynamic, low-tax, high-tech nation with a lean state and sound finances. Second, keep “populism” – by which his supporters meant Jean Luc Mélenchon on one side and Marine Le Pen on the other – at bay. A year and a half into his second term, the president has failed at both objectives, and his government stands on the brink of collapse.
Having already lost his parliamentary majority in 2022, and after a poor performance in the European elections in June of this year, Macron dissolved parliament, calling snap legislative elections. But the only effect was to pit both left and far-right against him, and both made gains, whittling his coalition down further. He then refused to appoint Lucie Castets, the candidate of the New Popular Front which came first in the election. Instead, he opted for a government of the right (propped up by the far-right), with Michel Barnier as PM.
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