France, a European country that was a pioneer 25 years ago in recognizing the slave trade and slavery as a crime against humanity, is now opening the door – timidly – to its reparation. The country was one of the main colonizing powers in Africa, the Caribbean, and America, especially between the 17th and 18th centuries, where it promoted slavery. The President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, has argued this week that the "immense issue" of reparation should not be evaded.

The situation of instability where the Fifth French Republic is located (The country's fifth prime minister has resigned since Macron's victory in the April 2022 presidential elections, the third since the early legislative elections of July 2024) lends itself easily to caricature and laughter. This is especially true because Macron has repeatedly refused to entrust the formation of a government to the left, and has therefore appointed right-wing prime ministers close to him, arguing that this is a way of promoting stability. Inspectors Clouseau and Gadget, and Louis de Funès, hover over the scene.

"Who will be able to govern an ungovernable country tomorrow?" asked the newspaper's editorialist. The Depêche, Jean-Claude Souléry, just days after French Prime Minister François Bayrou unexpectedly announced, at the end of August, that he would submit to a vote of confidence in the National Assembly on September 8. Barring a major upset—highly unlikely—France will be left without a government or prime minister this Monday once again.

Peace negotiations in Ukraine appear to be at a standstill, but Europe is moving forward to prepare for the future peace scenario. French President Emmanuel Macron announced this Thursday that 26 countries—mostly European— have agreed to participate in the peace mission in Ukraine that will be deployed when there is anCeasefire. "Twenty-six countries have pledged to deploy troops in Ukraine as a guarantee force, or to be present by land, sea, or air," the French president assured after the summit held this Thursday in Paris.

French President Emmanuel Macron's announcement that France will recognize the Palestinian state in September adds pressure on the United Kingdom and, above all, Germany to take this step, in view of the situation in Gaza, where hunger worsens day by day because of the Israeli blockadeFrance is the first G-7 member to recognize the Palestinian state, a decision that has been criticized by Israel and the United States.