As nation mourns PM, schools face veil ban & demographic issues.
Get European news in your inbox daily
A short daily digest of the whole continent — or just the countries you care about.
Check your email. We've sent a confirmation link — click it to complete your subscription.
France is in mourning following the death of former Prime Minister Edouard Balladur, who passed away at the age of 97. His significant contributions to French politics included serving as Prime Minister from 1993 to 1995.
The country also saw the start of the new school year, bringing renewed focus on educational challenges such as declining student numbers and the need for new land planning strategies. Exclusive rankings of middle schools based on academic performance have also been released. [cite: Le Monde, Le Figaro]
In the political arena, the far-right National Rally has revived its controversial proposal to ban the Islamic veil in public spaces, a move that is expected to intensify debates as the presidential race heats up. [cite: Mediapart] Meanwhile, the government, led by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, is preparing a minimalist budget for 2027, seeking cross-party support amidst a complex parliamentary landscape. [cite: Le Monde, 2, 16, 28, 33, 34]