Braun-Pivet Reelected as French Assembly Speaker

Yaël Braun-Pivet, an ally of President Emmanuel Macron, has been re-elected as the president of France's National Assembly, narrowly defeating communist lawmaker André Chassaigne in a closely contested vote that required three rounds. This re-election is seen as a potential breakthrough amid the political gridlock following snap polls that left no party with an absolute majority. The left-wing New Popular Front, which won the most seats but fell short of a majority, criticized the outcome as undemocratic. Braun-Pivet's election may offer clues on possible coalition formations as Macron's government seeks to navigate a deeply divided parliament. Her victory is attributed to support from centrist and center-right lawmakers, suggesting potential alliances for forming a new government. This development comes at a critical time with the nation facing uncertainty over who will run the government and how effectively it can operate in a fragmented assembly.