The new Assemblée Nationale’s most important task is to adopt an electoral system based on proportional representation. Only then can France’s transition from a presidential to a parliamentary democracy succeed and the far right be kept in check.

For France, the French president’s snap elections gamble is risky. From a European perspective, running that risk now is irresponsible.

Germany and France haven’t managed to devise a joint Ukraine strategy. Making good of that missed chance is now essential. It will involve talking about debt. 

President Emmanuel Macron is hoping that his tougher line vis-à-vis Russia will endear his party to voters. But the French care much less about foreign policy than one might think.