At a time when the EU is facing huge geopolitical challenges, Europe's two biggest powers are currently embroiled in a domestic political drama.
In France, President Emmanuel Macron's decision to call early parliamentary elections following his party's crushing defeat in June's European Parliament elections increased the likelihood of a far-right majority and a government led by the far-right National Rally (RN). Although voters ultimately chose a left-wing, centrist party over the far-right, preventing the RN from forming a government, the vote dealt a major blow to Macron and lost his centrist coalition's lead in a coalition government. With no party now holding an absolute majority in parliament and the president and the largest party by seats elected from different blocs, France finds itself in an uncharted political situation.
Macron announced on Monday that he would not appoint a prime ministerial candidate from the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) coalition, which won the most seats in Parliament. Macron continues to meet with party leaders, but he cannot rule out a ploy to appoint someone from his own camp rather than the NFP, which would surely infuriate the left.
