Brazil Court Allows Bolsonaro Hospital Trip Amid Prison Sentence 
U.S. Lawmakers Urge Pentagon to Blacklist More Chinese Tech Firms Over Military Ties 
Syria, Kurds and U.S. Race to Show Progress on SDF Integration Deal 
EU Approves €90 Billion Ukraine Aid as Frozen Russian Asset Plan Stalls 
Trump Signals Progress in Ukraine Peace Talks Ahead of U.S.–Russia Meeting 
Epstein Files Released by DOJ Spotlight Bill Clinton, Raise Questions Over Trump Mentions 
Trump Expands U.S. Travel Ban to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Sparking Economic Fears in the Caribbean 
Barham Salih Elected as Next UN High Commissioner for Refugees 
Argentina Unions Rally Against Milei’s Labor Reform as Congress Debates Key Bill 
U.S. Pushes New Gaza Governance Plan With International Force to Secure Ceasefire 
U.S. and China Push for Ceasefire as Thailand–Cambodia Border Clashes Escalate 
Trump Signals Push for Lower Health Insurance Prices as ACA Premium Concerns Grow 
Trump Administration Proposes Sweeping Limits on Gender-Affirming Care for Children 
U.S. Launches Large-Scale Airstrikes on ISIS Targets in Syria After Deadly Attack 
U.S. Initiates $11.1 Billion Arms Sale to Taiwan Amid Rising China Tensions 
Trump Signs Order to Ease Federal Marijuana Rules, Signaling Major Policy Shift 
Kennedy Center Reportedly Renamed Trump-Kennedy Center After Board Vote 
France held its legislative elections over the weekend, which would determine which political faction would hold the majority in the French parliament. In what would appear to be a surprising reversal, the faction of President Emmanuel Macron lost its absolute majority.
Reuters reports Macron’s centrist Ensemble Coalition fell short of maintaining its absolute majority in the French parliament following the recent legislative elections that took place Sunday. The near-final results of the races showed that despite being on track to control most seats, the coalition fell short of having an absolute majority.
A left-wing alliance was expected to be the major opposition group, while the right-wing faction gained wins.
Finance minister Bruno Le Maire called the results a “democratic shock,” and if other factions did not cooperate, it would obstruct the French government’s “capacity to reform and protect the French.” Despite the results, Le Maire said he is not worried.
Le Maire was also pressed on the possible alliances for Macron to secure power, which he said the top four priorities were “labor, security, Europe, and climate.”
“The result is a risk for our country in view of the challenges we have to face,” said Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, adding that moving forward, Macron’s party will have to forge alliances with others. Macron may also call for a snap election should a legislative gridlock remain.
Back in April, Macron became the first French president to win a second term in 20 years, as voters looked to keep the right-wingers out of power.
With the recent legislative results, Macron and his allies may have to decide whether to establish an alliance with the conservative Les Republicans or run a minority government that will have to negotiate with other parties on legislation.
A source close to the French leader told Reuters Monday that Macron will be inviting all political parties to form a group in the new parliament for discussions on Tuesday and Wednesday. With a hung parliament, Macron and his party would be under pressure to secure alliances in order to revive his reform agenda.
Should Macron fail, France may see a period of political paralysis.
