Leaders | France’s shotgun election

The French far right may not have peaked

After winning 32% of the vote in parliamentary elections it will eye the presidency

A man reads "Le Parisien" newspaper, seen the day after the second round of the French legislative election in Paris, France on July 5th 2024
Photograph: Getty Images

FRANCE’S FOURTH REPUBLIC lasted from 1946 to 1958. In those 12 years it had 26 governments, two of which were in power for only two days. The Fifth Republic created by Charles de Gaulle in 1958 was meant to provide greater stability, thanks to a new electoral system and a strengthening of the powers of the president. It has worked pretty well. Until now.

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This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “Calling Solomon”

How to raise the world’s IQ

From the July 13th 2024 edition

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