The rise of right-wing populists, influence from Russia and the USA as well as policy changes in the area of security and defence are the focus of election reporting.
Germany has voted and until the election day on 23 February 2025, interest in the federal elections in France was rather low. Current domestic political tensions in France, the fragile French government and economic policy challenges pushed the question of a new government and parliamentary majorities in the country's most important European partner into the background. The acceleration of geopolitical challenges in recent days, particularly with regard to American positions expressed at the Munich Security Conference, for example, then led to increased scrutiny of the elections. The prospect of an expected change in policy following the victory of the CDU/CSU with Friedrich Merz in the defence and security policy area was greeted with relief by the French government majority.
