Episode 162 – France, the Sick Man of Europe — What Comes Next?
with Guillaume de Calignon, Journalist at Les Echos
France is facing a pivotal moment as political gridlock, mounting fiscal pressures, and public unrest converge ahead of next year’s presidential election. In this episode of Current Account, Clay is joined by Guillaume de Calignon, an international economics journalist at Les Echos, to unpack the forces driving France’s political and economic uncertainty.
They discuss the roots of the country’s recent protests, the erosion of France’s political center and the challenges facing the next government as it confronts weak growth, high debt and persistent deficits. The conversation also examines what the presidential election could mean for France’s economic direction and how domestic political challenges could reshape the country’s influence within Europe.
This IIF Podcast was hosted by Clay Lowery, Executive Vice President, Research and Policy, and managed by Christian Klein, Digital Graphics and Production Associate and Miranda Silverman, Senior Program Assistant.