French Government Resigns After Legislative Election, and Other Headlines of the Day

Welcome to the Daily News Brief, CFR’s flagship morning newsletter summarizing the top global news and analysis of the day. Written by Catherine Osborn and edited by Mariel Ferragamo, with support from Diana Roy.

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Top of the Agenda

French Government Resigns, Shifts to Caretaker Role After Legislative Election

French President Emmanuel Macron accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and the other members of his government yesterday, urging “all Republican forces” to reach an agreement on new government posts as soon as possible. Attal’s outgoing administration will stay on as caretakers until a new government is appointed. While similar past transition periods have normally lasted for only a few days, France’s political landscape is fragmented after last month’s snap election, making the future governance of France more unclear. The country is also under pressure as it prepares to host the Summer Olympics beginning next week. 

A left-wing alliance won the most seats in the snap elections but is far from holding a legislative majority and has so far been divided on who to put forward for leadership. Macron, whose centrist coalition came in second, has said that “sincere and loyal dialogue” is needed to build a majority. (Politico, Reuters)

ANALYSIS

“We’re entering a form of political uncertainty, because in general a government of this kind is designed to last a few days, a few weeks at most,” the University of Paris-Panthéon-Assas’s Benjamin Morel tells Le Monde.

“Starting this summer, Macron will have to take into account the views of various other parties in the Assembly and make compromises,” CFR Senior Fellow Matthias Matthijs writes in this Expert Brief. “The main fight will be on the budget for 2025, where his government could clash with the [European Union].”

This episode of The President’s Inbox podcast with Daniela Schwarzer and CFR Senior Fellow Matthias Matthijs discusses the results and consequences of France’s snap elections. 

Pacific Rim

Two Chinese Solar Firms Commit to $3 Billion in Plant Deals in Saudi Arabia 

The plans come as Chinese solar firms experience a glut of domestic supply that has led the Chinese government to issue rules limiting domestic expansion of the solar sector. (Bloomberg)

China/Philippines: The countries will establish three new channels to handle communication over maritime disputes, according to an unnamed Philippines diplomatic source and a document seen by Reuters. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, when asked about the agreement on new communication channels, said “China has always been committed to working with the Philippines to properly address maritime issues through dialogue.” (Reuters)
 

South and Central Asia

Bangladesh Deploys Border Troops, Closes Schools as Student Protests Continue

The education ministry ordered nationwide school closures amid ongoing demonstrations against the revival of a quota system that would reserve many well-paid government jobs for groups including descendants of freedom fighters. At least six people were killed in yesterday’s demonstrations and hundreds were injured. Authorities sent border guards to five parts of the country. (Times of India, Dhaka Tribune, NYT)

India: The International Monetary Fund raised its 2024 growth projection for India to 7 percent from a projection earlier this year of 6.8. India is the world’s fastest-growing major economy, the fund says, and together with China is due to account for almost half of global growth this year. (CNBC)

This article by Mohamed A. El-Erian and CFR expert A. Michael Spence asserts that the Indian giant has arrived. 

Middle East and North Africa

Jury Finds U.S. Senator Menendez Guilty in Bribery, Foreign Influence Case

A New York jury found U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) guilty yesterday on sixteen felony counts including bribery, obstruction of justice, and acting as a foreign agent for Egypt between 2018 and 2022. Menendez said he “never violated my public oath” and that he plans to appeal. Some lawmakers have called for him to resign from the Senate. (WaPo)

U.S./Syria: A former Syrian military official who has been accused of torturing prisoners in a U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigation was arrested in Los Angeles last week, according to a court filing. He had been living in the city since 2020 and was also accused of attempted U.S. naturalization fraud. (NYT)

Sub-Saharan Africa

IOM: More Than Ten Million Sudanese Have Been Displaced Since Start of War

The UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) tally shows that 20 percent of the country’s population has now been forced from their homes in what has become the world’s largest displacement crisis since the war began in April 2023. The civil war has also driven the country to the brink of mass famine; about fifty million people are currently facing a hunger crisis, the most of any country worldwide. (Reuters)

This In Brief by CFR’s Mariel Ferragamo and Diana Roy details the extent of Sudan’s humanitarian crisis. 

Kenya: One person was killed yesterday in ongoing antigovernment demonstrations that began last month to voice opposition to a tax overhaul. Kenyan President William Ruto withdrew the tax overhaul and sacked his cabinet last week, but some demonstrators are still calling for his resignation. (BBC)

Europe

UK Becomes First European Country to Approve Lab-Grown Meat

United Kingdom (UK) regulators have so far approved lab-grown chicken for pet food. The country has moved more quickly on the matter than the European Union (EU) after Brexit; EU regulators have been more hesitant. Lab-grown meat has been approved for human consumption in countries such as the United States, Israel, and Singapore, though some U.S. state governments have banned it. Testing of lab-grown meat has increased worldwide amid concerns over agriculture emissions. (FT)

Americas

Watchdog: Around Seventy-Seven Venezuelan Opposition Figures Detained Since Campaign Launch

Authorities have detained opposition supporters and aides since Venezuela’s presidential campaign began on July 4, Caracas-based rights group Foro Penal said yesterday. Many of those detained have since been released, the group’s co-director said. Venezuela’s presidential election is set for July 28. (Bloomberg)

This Expert Brief by CFR’s Shannon K. O’Neil and Julia Huesa looks at whether President Nicolás Maduro will keep his hold on power. 

Cuba/Mexico: Mexico will employ an additional 2,700 Cuban doctors to fill a shortage in specialists, a social security official said yesterday. An opposition senator said in May that there were tens of thousands of unemployed doctors in Mexico who could do the work, while the U.S. State Department warned that same month that there were “serious concerns” about Cuba’s labor practices in its overseas doctor program. (Reuters) 

U.S. Campaign 2024

Trump Says Would No Longer Ban TikTok, Floats Potential Treasury Official, and Talks Taiwan

In an interview published yesterday with Bloomberg Businessweek, former President Donald Trump said he opposed a potential ban on TikTok and that he would consider JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon as potential Treasury Secretary. When asked whether he would defend Taiwan against China, Trump said that Taiwan “should pay us for defense,” adding “we’re no different than an insurance company.” (Bloomberg)

This CFR election tracker overviews Trump’s positions on major foreign policy issues.