Édouard Philippe Proposes Macron Resignation Amid Political Turmoil; Defamation Incident Targets Mayor Estrosi

In the midst of France's ongoing political crisis, Édouard Philippe, presidential candidate for Horizons and former Prime Minister, has proposed a plan for Emmanuel Macron's dignified resignation to restore institutional integrity. Philippe suggested that Macron could either follow Charles de Gaulle's precedent by calling a referendum or plan his departure after the adoption of the national budget. He criticized the current crisis as driven by personal and party ambitions, leading to public disillusionment. Philippe also rejected the idea of appointing a left-leaning Prime Minister or dissolving the National Assembly again.

Meanwhile, in Nice, Mayor Christian Estrosi became the target of defamatory antisemitic posters accusing him of complicity in war crimes and genocide. These posters, described by Prefect Laurent Hottiaux as "antisemitic and defamatory," have led the city to file a complaint for public insult, property damage, and defamation. Police are actively investigating the incident to identify the perpetrators.

Additionally, Marine Le Pen is intensifying efforts within the Rassemblement national to solidify party unity and policy clarity, especially regarding economic issues. Le Pen conducted a session testing her deputies' knowledge of stock buybacks, a concept tied to their long-standing proposal to impose a nearly 9 billion euro tax on such transactions, a measure publicly detailed for almost a year. These developments underscore the tense and complex political atmosphere as France grapples with governance challenges and societal divisions.