France
Explore our coverage of France’s politics, economics, business and culture, in articles, charts, podcasts and video
Europe
A crushing blow for Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance
A big turnout for Le Pen’s hard right makes clear the president’s gamble backfired spectacularly
Europe
France heads to the polls in a critical parliamentary vote
Marine Le Pen’s hard-right party is expecting a massive surge
Europe
Emmanuel Macron’s centrists are facing a disastrous first-round vote
Marine Le Pen’s party will be the main beneficiary
Leaders
Macron has done well by France. But he risks throwing it all away
After the election, populists of the right and left could hobble a centrist president
Business
Is the revival of Paris in peril?
The French election threatens a remarkable commercial renaissance
Europe
The alarming foreign policies of France’s hard right and hard left
They could weaken NATO and the West
Europe
The economic recklessness of both France’s hard left and hard right
They favour soaking the rich, big spending and business-bashing
Europe
Hard-right parties are entering government across Europe
Germany is among a dwindling number of holdouts
Europe
Emmanuel Macron faces heavy losses after a short campaign
The next French government may be led by the hard right or hard left
Leaders
Emmanuel Macron’s project of reform is at risk
A snap election in France reveals the flimsiness of his legacy
The Economist explains
How political “cohabitation” works in France
Upcoming parliamentary elections could lead to a new period of political friction
Finance & economics
How bad could things get in France?
The country’s next prime minister faces a brutal fiscal crunch
Europe
A hard-right 28-year-old could soon be France’s prime minister
Jordan Bardella is poised, social-media savvy and enigmatic
Europe
France is being thrown into uncharted territory
It could soon have a government led by the hard-left or hard-right
Culture
How Les Bleus went from zeroes to heroes
“Va-Va-Voom” chronicles the turnaround of the French men’s national team
Europe
Beyond France, the European elections will deliver more of the same
Outside France and Germany, the centre has largely held