This week’s covers

We have two covers this week. In one we focus on France, a country mired in a deep political crisis after the sacking of the government by parliament. With no party or alliance close to a majority in the National Assembly, France faces the prospect of a series of short-lived minority governments that will struggle to accomplish anything. The country offers a stark warning about where the politics of disappointment leads today. When voters have tired of centrist coalitions or weak minority governments, the only other choice before them is the political extremes. There is a real possibility of a government next year led by Marine Le Pen’s hard-right National Rally, or even a Le Pen presidency in 2027 when the next election must be called.