France is no stranger to political drama, but the past few weeks have tested even the most seasoned observers of its turbulent democracy. From a heated budget battle in the National Assembly to a trial over online harassment of the First Lady, and even whispers of royal restoration, the nation’s institutions are straining under the weight of economic, social, and political discord.
On Monday, October 27, 2025, France’s National Assembly took a significant—if contentious—step to address the country’s swelling deficit. Lawmakers adopted an amendment to increase taxes on France’s largest companies next year, a move that signals the government’s determination to find new revenue streams amid mounting fiscal pressures. According to Bloomberg, the finance ministry had originally set its sights on €4 billion ($4.7 billion) in extra revenue for 2026 by partially extending a temporary corporate tax hike on the biggest firms. But after opposition lawmakers succeeded in stripping away other planned measures, such as a freeze on income tax brackets, the government upped the ante, raising its revenue target to €6 billion.
This tax maneuver is just the tip of the iceberg in a broader and increasingly acrimonious debate over how to balance the books. The French Socialist Party, emboldened by the government’s vulnerability, has threatened to topple Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s government if the 2026 budget fails to include significant tax increases on the wealthy. Olivier Faure, the party’s leader, was unequivocal: “There would be a no-confidence vote if the budget bill fails.” His colleague Boris Vallaud added on RTL radio, “Anything’s possible.” (AFP)
At the heart of the left’s demands is a sweeping wealth tax, named after economist Gabriel Zucman, which they argue is essential for social justice and fiscal responsibility. Macron’s centrist group and parties on the right, however, are digging in their heels, warning that such a tax could be unconstitutional and might scare off investors. This standoff is not just theoretical—recent history shows that the stakes are real. In the past year alone, lawmakers have ousted two prime ministers over budget disputes, after snap elections left the legislature fractured into irreconcilable minority blocs.
Prime Minister Lecornu’s own grip on power has been tenuous at best. He only managed to remain in office by making a costly concession: suspending President Emmanuel Macron’s flagship pension reform, which aimed to gradually increase the official retirement age from 62 to 64. As reported by Politico, this U-turn, announced on October 14, 2025, was demanded by the Socialist swing group as their price for supporting deficit-cutting budget negotiations. The result? French social spending will rise by €2 billion over two years—a far cry from the fiscal tightening Macron had envisioned.
It’s not just the government’s fiscal plans that are under siege. The political instability has spilled into the streets and the courts. President Macron’s administration has been rocked by relentless protests, with millions participating in “Block Everything” demonstrations—massive strikes and marches organized by trade unions. These actions reflect not only discontent with economic policies but also a broader malaise about the direction of the country. According to The US Sun, the situation has become so fraught that calls for Macron’s resignation are now a regular feature of French public discourse.
Into this maelstrom steps an unlikely figure: Louis de Bourbon, a descendant of King Louis XVI. On October 28, 2025, Bourbon publicly declared his readiness to serve France if the country desires a return to monarchy, saying, “The political, institutional and social state of our country continues to worsen. I consider it my role as head of the House of Bourbon and heir of the dynasty that made France to speak on the issue.” In an interview with Journal du Dimanche, he expressed hope that the monarchical legacy could still inspire his compatriots, adding, “At a moment of decision, I hope that the monarchical legacy of which I am the trustee is still sufficiently vibrant in the heart of my compatriots to be a source of inspiration and, I must say, hope.”
While the prospect of a royal comeback may seem fanciful, the fact that such ideas are gaining traction is a measure of just how unsettled French politics have become. Macron’s appointment of a sixth prime minister in two years and the disintegration of his centrist bloc in the wake of a disastrous snap election last summer have left the country with no clear parliamentary majority. As Caliber.Az notes, the window for creative solutions—however unconventional—may be wider than at any time in recent memory.
Meanwhile, the personal toll of this political tumult is playing out in a Paris courtroom. On the same Monday as the Assembly’s tax vote, ten people—eight men and two women, aged 41 to 60—went on trial for online harassment of First Lady Brigitte Macron. The defendants stand accused of cyber-harassment, including spreading unsubstantiated claims that Brigitte Macron is a transgender woman and making accusations of “paedophilia” related to her 24-year age gap with President Macron. The Macrons, who were not present as the proceedings opened, have filed a defamation lawsuit in the United States as well, targeting conservative influencer Candace Owens if she persists with similar claims.
The trial has highlighted the corrosive impact of conspiracy theories and online hate. As Al Jazeera reports, the chief judge noted that the defendants’ posts—some of which quickly racked up tens of thousands of views—had led to a “deterioration” in Brigitte Macron’s physical and mental health. Among the accused are Delphine Jegousse, who released a four-hour video in 2021 propagating the rumors, and Aurelien Poirson-Atlan, a figure associated with conspiracy theory circles. The Macrons and Brigitte’s brother previously won a defamation suit against some of the defendants, but a Paris appeals court overturned that ruling in July 2025. They have since appealed to France’s highest court.
The case has resonated far beyond France’s borders, with the rumors amplified by far-right and conspiracy groups both at home and in the United States. The Macrons’ lawyer in the US case has stated the couple will seek “substantial” damages if the defamatory claims continue.
With the government beset by fiscal challenges, opposition parties threatening to bring it down, and even the specter of royal restoration haunting the national conversation, France finds itself at a crossroads. The question now is whether its political class can find common ground—or whether the country will continue to drift, battered by old ghosts and new grievances alike.
As the budget battles rage, the streets remain restless, and the courts grapple with the fallout of digital disinformation, France’s future hangs in the balance. The coming weeks will test not only the resilience of its leaders but the very fabric of its Fifth Republic.
