Georgina Wright
@georginaewright.bsky.social
8.3K followers 160 following 240 posts
Britain, France & Brussels thinking at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
georginaewright.bsky.social
Thank you for the interesting interview! Always a joy to chat to you.
Reposted by Georgina Wright
nicolasberrod.bsky.social
🔴 Voici le nouveau #gouvernement 👇
georginaewright.bsky.social
Which Macron decided to call..
georginaewright.bsky.social
Trying to find some good in this (v poor) decision… but I agree, I’m on thin ground. V thin.
Reposted by Georgina Wright
georginaewright.bsky.social
Lecornu may well get a budget through. But the damage for French politics is… real.
georginaewright.bsky.social
Lecornu may well get a budget through. But the damage for French politics is… real.
georginaewright.bsky.social
Centre-Left have said they’d be open to it — but suspect Macron was afraid they’d reverse some of his policies.
georginaewright.bsky.social
Sure, but repeatedly appointing ppl from same camp is hardly a winning strategy. It’s just going to anger everyone 10fold.
georginaewright.bsky.social
IMHO, Macron should not have named Lecornu PM tonight.
georginaewright.bsky.social
And for those wondering. I don’t think this is good news. Not a question of Lecornu’s credentials - which based on his yrs in gov, are solid - but rather what this does to French politics. Few wanted another “Macron” figure. Many will see this as another snub of the 2024 elections.
georginaewright.bsky.social
He talks of a “new” governmental team that embodies “renewal” & “diversity of strengths”. Hm.
georginaewright.bsky.social
And for those wondering. I don’t think this is good news. Not a question of Lecornu’s credentials - which based on his yrs in gov, are solid - but rather what this does to French politics. Few wanted another “Macron” figure. Many will see this as another snub of the 2024 elections.
georginaewright.bsky.social
Annnnnd… He’s back 🤣. President names Sébastien Lecornu PM (again).
georginaewright.bsky.social
Hmm. French MEPs aren’t huge fans
of VDL — and they certainly don’t like her style of leadership. So I think this has less to do with Macron, and more to do with VDL herself.
nvondarza.bsky.social
Taken together, I am seeing a French political class which is not only uploading its internal political crisis to the EU level, but also transposing its anger at Macron to an anger at the EU level pro-European centre.

Not a good combination.
Reposted by Georgina Wright
armida.bsky.social
Great to contribute to this weeks TTP. I make the point France's political permacrisis is bad news for European rearmament efforts.

I'm in excellent company too @georginaewright.bsky.social @dschwarzer.bsky.social.
carnegieeurope.bsky.social
❔| #TTP: Does France's Political Crisis Weaken Europe's Geopolitical Hand?

While the EU tries to navigate international challenges, France is experiencing historic political disarray. What impact will instability in Paris have on Europe's strategic capacity? ⤵️
carnegieendowment.org/europe/strat...
Taking the Pulse: Does France's Political Crisis Weaken Europe's Geopolitical Hand?
While the EU tries to navigate a myriad international challenges, France is experiencing historic political disarray. What impact will instability in Paris have on Europe's geostrategic capacity?
carnegieendowment.org
georginaewright.bsky.social
Outgoing French PM Sébastien Lecornu gave an interview this evening on French TV. Main points:
1. Macron cd nominate a new PM in next 48h (it won't be Lecornu). This also means no elections.
2. He thinks a budget can be adopted (enough common ground)
3. Thinks no budget by end of yr wd be dramatic
georginaewright.bsky.social
I did not see Macron asking Lecornu to try and form another government as a 4th option — but here we are. On Wednesday, Lecornu will inform Macron whether this has been possible…
georginaewright.bsky.social
What happens next? Three options for Macron:
1) names another PM (preferably, for longevity reasons, not from his camp)
2) calls snap elections
3) resigns.

1st or 2nd more likely than 3rd, though resignation rumours continue to swirl.
georginaewright.bsky.social
Yes... Not saying he should name RN PM. But interesting to think of what wd happen if he did.
georginaewright.bsky.social
2) They can't get anything through Parliament. In which case, they blame other parties from not cooperating (and helpfully forget their abstentions/opposition past 2 yrs)
3) If Macron fails to name a RN PM, they will say he's ignoring will of majority.

All good for their 2027 presidential bid.
georginaewright.bsky.social
An interesting thought exercise is whether Macron names someone from far-right Rassemblement National as PM - I can see 2 outcomes, all beneficial to them/2027 presidential election:
1) They do a good job (refraining from passing any "extreme" policies to reassure French electorate).
georginaewright.bsky.social
What happens next? Three options for Macron:
1) names another PM (preferably, for longevity reasons, not from his camp)
2) calls snap elections
3) resigns.

1st or 2nd more likely than 3rd, though resignation rumours continue to swirl.
georginaewright.bsky.social
French PM resigns & no-one shd be surprised. Majority of MPs saw his appointment as lacking legitimacy (Macron party is far from biggest in parliament). Lecornu took several weeks to appoint a government - which, upon announcement last night, was almost identical to last. Huge anger in response.
georginaewright.bsky.social
I absolutely agree. There is tendency to rely on the "if only voters understood what we were actually saying, then.." -- and it's too easy. But I also genuinely think they tend to be worse communicators if you compare them to other parties. So bad comms doesn't excuse everything, but..