In this episode of the Sound of Economics, host Rebecca Christie speaks about France’s politics and economy with Bruegel’s Jean Pisani-Ferry and Shahin Vallée, senior associate fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations. Why is France in such turmoil and who could be its next president? Where will the budget standoff lead? How does Europe adjust to waning French influence and a possible weakening of the Franco-German alliance that has long been at its economic core? As Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Mélenchon lead early polling for next year’s elections, what are the possible consequences for the European Union? Will a strong candidate emerge from a more centrist party? And what will France do about its debt? Pisani-Ferry and Vallée break down what’s going on and where we could be headed, as well as the long-term outlook for European alliances across defence, industry and economic cooperation.
Relevant research:
Mayer, F., J. Pisani-Ferry, D. Schwarzer and S. Vallée (2022) ‘Enlarging and deepening: giving substance to the European Political Community', Policy Contribution 15/2022, Bruegel
Pisani-Ferry, J. (2023) 'Why Europe’s Franco-German Engine Is Stalling', Project Syndicate
Macron's snap election gamble, Bruegel podcast with Rebecca Christie, Jean Pisani-Ferry and André Sapir, 2024
What's next for France and Europe? Bruegel podcast with Jean Pisani-Ferry, Bryn Watkins and Guntram B. Wolff, 2017
Vallée, S. (2026) 'France needs a new cross-party budget rule', L'Opinion